Major investigation dismantles global network

An international child pornography network of considerable scale was recently dismantled by French gendarmes, after an investigation lasting more than a year. The network operated mainly on the secure messaging application Signal, enabling thousands of users to exchange illegal content. The investigation began in November 2023 following a search of the telephone of an individual in the Hauts-de-Seine department, suspected of regularly consulting child pornography images. Investigators soon discovered that he was a member of several discussion groups on Signal, where such content was shared.

Various profiles among the suspects
The investigation identified 95 French nationals involved in this criminal network. Of these, 94 were adults aged between 18 and 74, and a 16-year-old minor was also identified. The suspects lived in several regions of France, including Île-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand Est. Of those arrested, 36 were already known to the authorities for sexual offences involving minors, and seven were registered in the sex offenders file (FIJAIS).

Massive searches and seizures
Between 9 and 19 December 2024, searches were carried out across the country, resulting in the seizure of 330 digital devices. These seizures included 152 mobile phones and 122 computers, which contained an astronomical amount of data. Investigators discovered more than 375,000 photos and 156,000 child pornography videos, representing a total of 217 terabytes of information. Some of the suspects were administrators of these discussion groups, while others simply shared content.

Suspects with worrying profiles
The individuals arrested had a wide range of profiles. They include a deputy mayor, a sports educator and the head of a youth information association. The gendarmerie said that these people did not know each other personally, but were all members of the same discussion groups on Signal, some with administrative rights.

An investigation with international ramifications
This child pornography network was not confined to France, and included users from 130 countries, with a strong presence in Central and South America. The gendarmes have passed on information about these users to Interpol, in order to pursue the investigation on an international scale. The police are continuing to examine the media seized to determine whether any of the suspects contributed to the production of this illegal content, which would involve child abuse.

Identification of victims and closure of groups
Investigators are continuing their inquiries to identify possible victims, particularly in France, and to determine whether French children were involved. In addition, all the discussion groups on Signal have been closed, but the authorities are continuing to work to trace the perpetrators and victims. This dismantling is a strong signal to those responsible for child pornography networks, but it is also an important step in the fight against the sexual exploitation of minors on a global scale.