Concerns are mounting in Germany regarding law enforcement’s inability to effectively remove child abuse material from online platforms, even with the necessary technology. Investigations reveal that recordings often remain accessible for years, exacerbating victim trauma. Despite promises from officials to prioritize this issue, a lack of resources and structural deficiencies impede progress. Additionally, the rise of AI-generated child pornography poses new challenges, underscoring the urgent need for improved deletion efforts and victim protection strategies.
Concerns Over Child Abuse Material Persistence in Germany
German law enforcement agencies are facing criticism for their failure to systematically remove images and videos depicting child abuse, despite the technical capability to do so. Investigative data and a confidential report from interior ministers highlight this ongoing issue, as uncovered by research from Panorama.
Authorities often do not take immediate action to erase criminal recordings circulating in pedocriminal darknet forums, even when these materials are part of ongoing investigations. For instance, after the shutdown of the darknet forum ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by North Rhine-Westphalia investigators in September 2024, associated recordings remain online, perpetuating their distribution as revealed by recent studies from ARD’s Panorama and the investigative format STRG_F.
Structural Deficiencies in Police Investigations
The case of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ underscores a significant structural shortcoming in police operations. Research indicates that while prosecutors prioritize dismantling forums and apprehending key perpetrators, the removal of abusive content from online storage services is often deprioritized. Law enforcement agencies do not actively seek out these recordings in relevant darknet forums, leaving them accessible due to constrained resources.
Tragically, many recordings that depict severe sexual abuse of children can remain online for prolonged periods, sometimes lasting for years. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has pledged to prioritize combating child abuse during her term, emphasizing the importance of eliminating these harmful recordings. The continuous availability of such material inflicts further trauma on the victims, infringing upon their rights.
Following revelations in 2021 that the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) had allowed substantial illegal content to persist online during darknet investigations, Minister Faeser claimed that deletion procedures at the BKA had been reformed. In a recent interview from December 2024, she reiterated her belief that improvements had been made and highlighted the significance of deletion as a crucial strategy in crime fighting. However, an extensive data analysis conducted by STRG_F and Panorama indicates that authorities still fail to remove linked recordings, allowing disturbing content to remain accessible for years.
In response to the tactics employed by pedocriminal offenders, law enforcement agencies have begun infiltrating the internet to unmask these criminals. Offenders typically operate within the anonymous darknet but often store their vast amounts of illegal content on conventional internet storage services to avoid detection. By systematically analyzing darknet forums, investigators have collected thousands of tips to alert storage services about encrypted abuse materials.
Despite acknowledgment from the conference of interior ministers regarding the effectiveness of deletion efforts, a confidential report suggests that large-scale deletions are not being executed. This report points to personnel shortages and the need for political adjustments to certain legal frameworks. It emphasizes that deletion efforts would significantly enhance victim protection and align with public expectations.
Moreover, recent investigations reveal a disturbing trend: artificial intelligence is increasingly being exploited to create child pornography. However, the data gathered by Panorama and STRG_F suggest that deletion tasks could be managed with minimal staffing. In a pilot project, just two individuals successfully identified and removed links to numerous abusive images and videos from major darknet forums over several months, culminating in the deactivation of over 300,000 recordings.
In fact, two darknet forums that implemented systematic deletions ceased operations altogether. Users noted that one forum had become inactive, while some offenders indicated in discussions that they would discontinue their activities due to the consistent removals. Additionally, law enforcement has apprehended six men in connection with these investigations.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior has reiterated that procedures are under evaluation and adjustment, though specifics remain vague. NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU), involved in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ case, expressed a desire for more effective deletions, stating that while arrests and victim rescues are vital, the removal of abusive content must also be prioritized. He plans to revisit this issue at the upcoming conference of interior ministers.
This pressing issue was reported by NDR Info on February 6, 2025, highlighting the urgent need for action in the fight against child exploitation online.