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German investigators, in collaboration with Europol and law enforcement agencies from 38 countries, have dismantled “KidFlix,” a notorious darknet platform used for distributing child sexual abuse material.
The site, which had approximately 1.8 million registered users, was considered one of the largest pedophile platforms in the world.
Authorities seized the platform in what has been described as “one of the biggest blows against child pornography in recent years, if not ever,” according to Guido Limmer, deputy head of the Bavarian Criminal Police. The multi-nation operation led to the identification of nearly 1,400 suspects and resulted in 79 arrests.
A Massive Operation Across 38 Countries
The investigation, spearheaded by German police since 2022, involved coordinated raids in 31 countries, making it Europol’s largest operation against child sexual exploitation to date. German and Dutch authorities jointly carried out a significant raid, seizing a hard drive containing 72,000 videos of child abuse. In Germany alone, police targeted 103 individuals and conducted searches at 96 locations.
The scale of abuse on “KidFlix” was staggering. The platform reportedly hosted over 91,000 videos, totaling more than 6,288 hours of child sexual abuse material. Unlike other dark web sites, “KidFlix” allowed users to stream videos in high resolution and earn access through cryptocurrency purchases or by uploading and categorizing abusive content.
Protecting Victims and Preventing Further Abuse
Beyond dismantling the platform, authorities have been working to identify and rescue victims. Investigators intervened in 96 instances to protect children, successfully stopping ongoing abuse in 12 cases. A total of 39 children were safeguarded during the investigation.
One of the most horrifying cases uncovered involved a 36-year-old man from Chemnitz, Germany, who had not only searched for abuse material on “KidFlix” but also “offered his young son for games,” according to Limmer. The child was immediately placed under child protection services. Investigators also managed to identify a “serial” abuser in the United States.
Ongoing Investigations and the Hunt for the Site’s Creator
Authorities believe “KidFlix” was created in 2021 by a cybercriminal who profited immensely from its operations. While Europol has successfully taken down the platform and identified many users, the investigation remains active as the operator of the site has not yet been apprehended.
Senior prosecutor Thomas Goger from the Bamberg Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the vast amounts of confiscated data, over 3,000 electronic devices, are still being analyzed. “The investigation into the platform is not at an end,” he emphasized, adding that the bulk of the identified suspects were between 20 and 40 years old, with the youngest suspect born in 2006.
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