In a major international operation, a Dark Web site hosting child sexual abuse material has been taken offline, and 63 UK-based users have been identified, following a collaborative investigation between the National Crime Agency (NCA) and German authorities.
The Operation
The investigation, led by German police, targeted a site known as Kidflix, which mimicked the design and functionality of a well-known video streaming platform. The site allowed users to pay for access to illegal content using cryptocurrency or earn credits by uploading their own material. These credits could then be used to access more child sexual abuse (CSA) imagery.
The site hosted tens of thousands of videos depicting child sexual abuse, making it one of the most concerning platforms of its kind. In total, 1,275 users worldwide were identified as either paying for access or uploading illegal content.
UK Investigation
After receiving intelligence from German authorities in February, the NCA identified 63 users within the UK who had accessed the site using cryptocurrency. The agency promptly shared this intelligence with 28 police forces across the country to initiate arrests and safeguard children.
To date, 30 individuals have been arrested in the UK as part of this coordinated effort.
NCA Statement
Speaking on the operation, NCA Senior Manager Neil Keeping said:
With thanks to our law enforcement partners in Germany and Europol, a dangerous site hosting tens of thousands of child sexual abuse videos has been taken down.
NCA intelligence officers worked quickly to identify the UK users of the site, providing a package of intelligence to forces across the country so arrests could be made and children could be safeguarded.
Providing this global-to-local response is paramount in our role to protect children from child sexual abuse and criminals who seek out this content.
Global Collaboration
The NCA emphasized the importance of international collaboration in tackling such serious cybercrimes. Working closely with Europol and German law enforcement, the agency played a critical role in ensuring the site was taken down and its users identified.
Impact and Next Steps
While the Kidflix site has been successfully taken offline, the NCA and UK police forces are continuing their investigations to track down remaining suspects. The NCA has reiterated its commitment to protecting children from abuse and disrupting Dark Web platforms that facilitate such criminal activity.
Authorities are also examining the seized cryptocurrency transactions to gather more evidence and identify additional perpetrators. The NCA continues to work closely with international partners to combat the proliferation of child sexual abuse material online.
How to Report
If anyone has information related to online child abuse or suspects someone of engaging in such activities, they are urged to report it to the NCA or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
