A major international child pornography network dismantled, 95 French people identified

A major international child pornography network on the Signal application has been dismantled, the gendarmerie announced in a press release Thursday evening.

The gendarmerie dismantled an international child pornography network, operating on the Signal messaging application. Among the 95 people identified in France, “the vast majority were arrested”specifies a source close to the matter to franceinfo. These arrest operations were carried out between December 9 and Thursday December 19. Searches were also carried out. During these searches, investigators discovered 375,000 photos, 156,000 videos, 122 computers, 330 digital media and 152 smartphones containing 217 terabytes of “data of interest to the investigation”.

The investigation started in November 2023 “during the search of the telephone of an individual living in Hauts-de-Seine, accused of habitually viewing child pornography images”indicates the gendarmerie. “The Nanterre public prosecutor’s office relinquished responsibility for the benefit of the 64 territorially competent public prosecutor’s offices and kept six files in its hands”it is specified in the press release. In total, 140 specialized investigators from the gendarmerie were mobilized.

These 95 people were identified in France “on forums bringing together 16,000 users from 130 countries. More than 200 terabytes of images and videos were made available to participants”indicates the gendarmerie. Among these 95 people, “36 were already known for sexual offenses against minors or consultation of sites featuring minors and 7 already registered with FIJAIS”the sex offender file.

“All are men aged 18 to 74”and a 16-year-old minor, reports the gendarmerie. Some have particular profiles: “One of them worked as director of a youth information association, one was a sports instructor, the deputy of a mayor is also involved”points out the gendarmerie.

These men were located in Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Grand Est and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, without further details at this stage. “These people did not know each other but were registered in the same groups, some of which had administrative rights”indicates the gendarmerie.