European police say KidFlix, “one of many largest pedophile platforms on the earth,” busted in joint operation

German investigators stated Wednesday that that they had dismantled a significant platform for the distribution of kid sexual abuse photos that had 1.8 million customers worldwide, in a global operation coordinated by the pan-European police company Europol.

The transfer to close down the “KidFlix” streaming service was “one of many largest blows in opposition to baby pornography lately, if not ever,” stated Guido Limmer, deputy head of the Bavarian Legal Police.

The investigation was led by German police and supported by authorities in 38 international locations, together with Australia, Canada and the U.S., below the coordination of Europol.

In all, “KidFlix” is claimed to have hosted greater than 91,000 movies with photos of kid sexual abuse, totaling round 6,288 hours of video, in accordance with the Bavarian police power.

Authorities have been in a position to establish nearly 1,400 particular person customers of the platform, which was hosted on the so-called darknet or dark web.

Police in March carried out searches at places in 31 international locations within the “largest operation ever” organized by Europol, in accordance with Limmer.

A joint raid by German and Dutch authorities resulted within the seizure of a tough drive with round 72,000 movies of kid sexual abuse, he stated.

In Germany, police carried out raids at 96 places, focusing on 103 particular person suspects, the Bavarian police stated.

German authorities stated that they had labored to establish baby victims of the abuse whereas the investigation was nonetheless in progress.

Police arrested a 36-year-old man within the jap German metropolis of Chemnitz in January 2024 who had looked for abuse photos on “KidFlix”.

The person had additionally “provided his younger son for video games,” Limmer stated. The kid had been handed over to baby safety companies.

Investigators had additionally been in a position to establish a “serial” abuser in the USA, Limmer stated.

“KidFlix” was created in 2021 by a “cybercriminal who made big revenue from it,” according to Europol, “because it rapidly turned some of the well-liked platforms amongst pedophiles.” 

About 3.5 new movies have been being uploaded to the positioning per hour earlier than it was taken down, in accordance with the worldwide police company.