Online
Child Pornography
Innocent Images National Initiative
Operation
Candyman Investigation -- March 2002
Computer
telecommunications have become one of the most prevalent
techniques used by pedophiles to share illegal photographic
images of minors and to lure children into illicit
sexual relationships. The Internet has dramatically
increased the access of sex offenders to the population
they seek to victimize.
The Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI), a
component of the FBI's Cyber Crimes Program, is an
intelligence-driven, proactive, multi-agency investigative
initiative to combat the proliferation of child pornography/child sexual exploitation
facilitated by an online computer. The IINI provides centralized coordination
and analysis of case information that by its very nature is national and international
in scope, requiring unprecedented coordination with state, local, and international
governments,
and among FBI Field Offices and Legal Attachés.
The mission of
the IINI is to:
- identify,
investigate, and prosecute sexual predators who
use the Internet and online services to sexually
exploit children;
- establish
a law enforcement presence on the Internet as a
deterrent to subjects that use it to exploit children;
and
- identify
and rescue witting and unwitting child victims.
HISTORY
OF INNOCENT IMAGES
While
investigating the disappearance of a juvenile in
May 1993, FBI Agents and Prince George's County,
Maryland, police detectives identified two suspects
who had sexually exploited numerous juveniles over
a 25-year period. Investigation into the activities
of the suspects determined that the adults were routinely
utilizing online computers to transmit child pornography.
Further investigation and discussions with experts,
both within the FBI and in the private sector, revealed
that the utilization of computer telecommunications
was rapidly becoming one of the most prevalent techniques
by which some sex offenders shared pornographic images
of minors and identified and recruited children into
sexually illicit relationships. Based on information
developed during this investigation, the Innocent
Images National Initiative was started in 1995 to
address the illicit activities conducted by users
of commercial and private online services and the
Internet.
During the early stages of Innocent Images, a substantial amount of time was
exhausted on commercial online service providers that provide numerous easily
accessible "chat rooms" in which teenagers and pre-teens can meet
and converse with each other. By using chat rooms, children can chat for hours
with unknown individuals, often without the knowledge or approval of their
parents. Investigation revealed that computer sex offenders used chat rooms
to contact children. Chat rooms offer the advantage of immediate communication
around the world and provide the pedophile with an anonymous means of identifying
and recruiting children into sexually illicit relationships.
TODAY'S
INNOCENT IMAGES
Today,
the FBI's IINI focuses on:
- individuals
who indicate a willingness to travel interstate
for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity
with a minor; and
- major
producers and/or distributors of child pornography.
In addition,
the IINI works to identify child victims and obtain
appropriate services/assistance
for them.
Online child pornography/child sexual exploitation is the most significant
cyber crime problem confronting the FBI that involves crimes against children.
Throughout the FBI, there was a 1,997% increase in the number of IINI cases
opened between fiscal years 1996 and 2002 from 113 to 2,370. It is anticipated
that the number of cases opened and the resources utilized to address the crime
problem will continue to rise during the next several years.
The FBI
has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the
Innocent Images National Initiative remains viable
and productive through the use of new technology
and sophisticated investigative techniques, coordination
of the national investigative strategy, and a national
liaison initiative with a significant number of commercial
and independent online service providers. Innocent
Images has been highly successful. It has proven
to be a logical, efficient, and effective method
to identify and investigate individuals who are using
the Internet for the purpose of sexually exploiting
children.
To report child pornography and/or
sexual exploitation of children, please contact your
Crimes Against Children Coordinator
at your local FBI Field Office or link to the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com. The CyberTipline allows parents
and children to file a report by submitting an online form. This form is then
reviewed by analysts and forwarded to law enforcement including the FBI, the
U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and state and local
police
agencies.
For additional
information on Internet safety, please consult the
FBI brochure titled 'A
Parent's Guide to Internet Safety' which is available online. You may obtain a hard
copy of the brochure by contacting a Crimes Against
Children Coordinator at your
local FBI Field Office.
Individual FBI Field
Offices serve as primary points of contact for persons requesting FBI assistance.
For further information about FBI services or to request assistance, please
contact a Crimes Against Children Coordinator at your local FBI Field Office.