Child Abuse Traced Via Secured Apps

According to the security personal told Radio 4’s File on four programmes that the encrypted apps were taking over the dark web as the venue for the crime.

Many secured apps like Telegram and Discord have become the popular following successful police operations against the criminal market on what is known as the dark web - a network that only is access through special browser.

Secured apps have both public and encrypted side.

On the public side is listed online so can users can reach and join groups advertising drugs, stole financial data and other illegal materials. Once the group is joined, messages are protected by peer to peer encryption.

 

Abuse Catalogues:

Investigators have found that paedophiles were using both Telegram and Discord to give people the access to abuse material and the links to the telegram groups were buried in the public comments sections on YouTube videos.

These contained code words that can be recorded by search engines and once clicked on took people to the close groups.

Many researchers confirmed that at least one of these groups contained hundreds of indecent images of children.

Google tries to put the restriction on those links which are publicly accessible on the web, so it is a mean of getting people who are curious or idly searching into the close space where they can access material.”  

According to the YouTube it has some zero tolerance approach to child sexual abuse and has invested heavily in technology, teams and partnership to tackle the issue. Spokesperson said if it identified links, imaginary or content promoting child abuse the material is removed and the authorities are alerted. Spokesperson of Telegram said it processed reports from the users and engaged in “Proactive Searches” to keep the platform free to abuse, including child abuse and terrorist propaganda.

 

Explicit photos:

Investigator of BBC has also found that paedophiles are exploiting the Discord app, which is popular among the young people, who use it to text or chat while gaming online.

It is discovered that many chat rooms openly promoted as suitable for 13 to 17 years old , but with very sexual description that persuade children to hand over the explicit photos.

 

Card Crash:

Radio investigation also unearthed widespread abuse of the apps to stolen payment card data.

One British victim’s personal details have been published by the criminal like full name, address, date of birth, password, bank account and credit card details, including the three-digit security code.

 

By: Lakshender S Angras

Content: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology