The Berlin police searched the homes of 20 suspects on suspicion of child and youth pornography. The police seized computers and mobile phones in particular on Tuesday morning, it was reported. The alleged perpetrators are accused of having received, downloaded from the Internet or distributed pornographic recordings of children and young people from others.
The police speak of an initial suspicion of “possession, possession and distribution of child and youth pornography”. The investigations were aimed at twenty suspects, says a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office. Their private homes would be searched. According to the initial findings, it concerns individual cases and not a network. About 40 police officers are on their way, the police report on Twitter.
Information was found through Whatsapp groups
According to the prosecutor, the information about the suspects was obtained through Whatsapp groups or from the American non-governmental organization NCMEC (“National Center for Missing and Exploited Children”). US internet providers are required to report suspected cases of child pornography to this center.
The NCMEC forwards the leads, which often include private computer IP addresses, to law enforcement. When it comes to IP addresses in Germany, the German Federal Investigation Service (BKA) is informed, which in turn involves the LKAs in the federal states. Subsequently, the users of the IP addresses are determined. Due to the large number of tips from the US, the number of investigations into the possession, production and distribution of offensive content has recently also increased in Germany.
The seriousness of the allegations varies
The motives of the suspects and the seriousness of the accusations differ, the police write. For example, “pedosexuals” create the material themselves, collectors are constantly looking for “new things”. Occasional users and, more recently, youths also distribute child pornography files for “entertainment purposes”. By searching and seizing computers containing relevant photos or videos, police aim to clarify the specific allegation while securing evidence for charges and convictions.
The police warned on Tuesday that the mere possession or forwarding of images via the internet could lead to criminal prosecution and house searches. She tweeted several examples of allegations to deter would-be perpetrators.
Source: Krone
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