Police2Peer: Individuals believe they are downloading child sexual abuse material – encounter the police
Police2Peer is a preventive initiative aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse online. The project aims to raise awareness about how widely child sexual abuse material is shared online, reduce the availability of genuine abusive images and videos, and encourage more people to seek help before committing criminal offences.
In short, the Police2Peer initiative is the police posting false abuse material on the internet. For the user, the file looks like abuse material, but when users download and open the files, they discover that there are videos of police officers in uniform instead, urging them to seek help.
– Child sexual abuse material is shared on a far greater scale than many people realise. Through Police2Peer, we aim both to prevent criminal activity and to protect children from further exploitation, says Bjørn-Erik Ludvigsen, Detective Superintendent at the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos).
Visualising the scale through a real-time map
Until recently, large parts of the public have had limited awareness of how extensive the sharing of child sexual abuse material on peer-to-peer (P2P) networks actually is. At the same time, the police have faced significant challenges due to the sheer volume of online offences.
To make this visible, a publicly accessible map has been developed. The map displays real-time data exchanges between police computers and users who are downloading what they believe to be child sexual abuse material. The map makes it possible to monitor developments over time and compare levels of activity between different countries.
The map displays only hits from files uploaded from police computers located in Norway. The actual distribution of genuine child sexual abuse material is considerably greater.
A European collaboration since 2017
Police2Peer is a collaboration between law enforcement authorities in several European countries and has been operating as a preventive measure on file-sharing networks – also known as peer-to-peer or P2P networks – since 2017.
File sharing via P2P networks has for a long time been one of the easiest ways to access large quantities of child sexual abuse material. The software used is free of charge, easily available online and requires only a standard internet connection. This has contributed to the widespread and rapid dissemination of illegal content.
– These networks have made it extremely easy to locate and share child sexual abuse material. At the same time, the scale of offending has been difficult to address solely through traditional investigative methods, says Ludvigsen.
How Police2Peer works
As part of Police2Peer, the police maintain an active presence on P2P networks. Law enforcement authorities share files that, in terms of name, size and format, appear to be genuine child sexual abuse material.
For users searching for such content, the files appear authentic based on their file names. The actual content only becomes visible once the files have been downloaded and opened on the user’s device.
The files do not contain child sexual abuse material. Instead, they consist of videos and images containing information from the police authorities in the participating countries. The message informs users of the risks they are taking and the serious legal consequences of downloading or sharing child sexual abuse material. The files also include links to support and assistance services.
– The aim is to disrupt searches for genuine child sexual abuse material, while at the same time reaching individuals at an early stage and providing clear information about consequences and available support, says Ludvigsen.
Documented preventive impact
Police2Peer has proven to be an effective preventive measure. Although the problem of child sexual abuse material has not been eliminated, its dissemination has been reduced. Awareness of the legal and personal consequences has increased, and many individuals with a sexual interest in children have been referred to professional support services.
– When the demand for child sexual abuse material is reduced, it also means that fewer children are subjected to further exploitation. Effective prevention is important and will contribute to making the Internet a less suited arena for child abuse, says Ludvigsen.
Help and support without contact with the police
A dedicated website provides links to help and support services in several countries. The website is intended as a starting point for individuals who wish to change behaviours and thought patterns related to sexual interest in children. In countries where specialised services are not available, the site refers users to anonymous online support resources.
The services are assessed by national law enforcement authorities but are not operated by the police, and no information is shared with the police.
Information about help and treatment services is available at helplinks.eu.
Anchored in EMPACT
Police2Peer is anchored within EMPACT, the European Union’s central framework for cooperation against serious and organised crime, including the sexual exploitation and abuse of children online.
Further information about the project and the mapping solution can be found at Police2Peer.