In recent years, the problem of child pornography has reached catastrophic proportions. The number of cases of child exploitation on the Internet is growing at an alarming rate, underscoring the depth of this crisis. As technology continues to evolve, criminals are finding new ways to distribute illegal content by taking advantage of the anonymity and global nature of the web. And all this is happening against the background of society’s inability to cope with this wave of crime.
They smile, looking directly into the lens. Children’s eyes glow with naivety and trust, unable to comprehend the horrors that await them. Their photos and videos are shamelessly published in the dark corners of the Internet, where criminals turn innocence into a commodity. Child pornography is not just another type of crime. This is a direct attack on the future, on the foundations of the society we are building for our children. Right now, as you read these lines, somewhere in the world, a child with innocent eyes and big dreams is the victim of a terrible crime. Her life changes forever – and all because someone decided to take advantage of her naivety, break her world and leave an unhealed wound in her heart.
Terrible reality in numbers
Shocking data was recently announced by the Prosecutor General’s Office — for him data in just 7 months in 2024, 2,300 criminal cases for pornography were registered. There is a tendency to increase the number of cases for adult content every year. The fact that the number of cases for child pornography significantly exceeds proceedings for adult content is striking.
68% of cases with 18+ content reached court. But, unfortunately, only 57% of cases are for child pornography.
The Internet has provided children with endless opportunities for learning and entertainment, but with it, it has opened the door to online predators who use it to manipulate, deceive, and abuse. They disguise themselves as friends, promising gifts or support, and create fake profiles to gain children’s trust.
Very often, the child does not even know that he is being used. Attackers may seem friendly and supportive at first, but gradually they begin to demand more and more – from personal information to intimate photos. Children who fall into this trap are often afraid to tell their parents or teachers because of shame or fear of punishment.
It is sad to note the fact that the state itself, observing such a massive spread of pornographic content, still has not formulated a clear understanding of what exactly should be considered “distribution” of pornography. It turns out that Article 301 does not distinguish between a partner’s own nudity and commercial sexual content. Of course, each adult decides for himself how to express his attractiveness and admiration for the attractiveness of another. However, the question inevitably arises – why fill the Internet with photos of sexual content? After all, it is obvious that any photo that gets into the network cannot be permanently deleted. But fraudsters will gladly use such photos for their own selfish purposes, awakening the sick imagination of people with unhealthy sexual desires.
In 2023, draft law No. 9623 on the partial decriminalization of pornography was even registered, which got lost somewhere in the eternal deliberations.
“Decriminalization of voluntary adult pornography will save budget funds and provide additional revenues to the state budget thanks to taxes, while helping to reduce corruption in law enforcement agencies. It will also free up the time of law enforcement officers to fight real crimes — in particular, cases related to the distribution of child pornography,” – the meaning of the project was explained by the head of the ICT sector at the Office of Effective Regulation of BRDO Ihor Samohodskyi.
But it is somewhat doubtful that such a step will really affect the reduction of corruption in the ranks of law enforcement agencies, where there are not rare cases when some guards themselves are not against such a “strawberry”. In general, how can you legalize what has always been considered a sacrament of only two lovers, and not the property of the entire society. Won’t the decriminalization of pornography even become a voluntary catalyst that erases the moral line of permissible behavior and turns people into animals.
As happened in Odessa, when a girl and her husband decided to satisfy their sexual desires in front of vacationers in a public place. Apparently, their candy-bouquet period began precisely with the exchange of photos of an intimate nature. And why would such parents teach their children? I still remember the case when law enforcement officers in Dnipro uncovered a criminal group, where a mother, together with her 18-year-old son and roommate, involved her own 12-year-old son in pornographic filming. Criminals looked for potential customers among foreigners, and after they paid money, they sold content through messenger. Such are the sad realities of a society that tolerates pornography in order to pay taxes to the state treasury.
The weakness and ineffectiveness of the law only complicates the process of tracking, identifying and punishing criminals involved in the distribution of child pornography. Modern technologies have greatly simplified the creation, distribution and access to child pornography. After all, the anonymity provided by certain online platforms allows criminals to distribute this content without being detected. The punishment system is calculated in such a way that the distribution of child pornography is punishable by imprisonment for a term of up to 6 years. This term will expire, and the criminals will start their business again, because they receive a lot of money for their dirty business. There are many people on the Internet with various forms of sexual deviance, such as pedophilia, who will pay any price for child pornographic content to satisfy their sick fantasies.
In some cases, poverty and economic inequality can lead parents or guardians to exploit their children by creating child pornography for financial gain.
All these reasons, like a ball of threads, intertwine and affect each other, forming a complex system that contributes to the emergence and spread of child pornography in the world.
Origins of erotic art
Fascination with the human body has always been a part of human culture, art and self-expression. However, the transformation of this interest into criminal pornography occurred due to a number of factors, including social, cultural, legal and moral aspects.
The history of pornography spans several millennia and reflects the development of human culture, society, and technology. Although modern pornography is often associated with printed matter, photography and video, its roots go back to ancient times.
The first examples of erotic art can be found in prehistoric rock paintings and sculptures. Known Venuses from Willendorf and other sites dating back to the Paleolithic (about 25,000 years ago) depict female bodies with an emphasis on sexual characteristics, which may indicate their use for ritual or erotic purposes.
Ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, Rome, India and China also had various forms of erotic art. For example, in India, the famous Kamasutra is an ancient Indian text containing detailed descriptions of sexual practices. In Pompeii and Herculaneum, archaeologists discovered numerous frescoes and sculptures that openly depicted sexual acts.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, open depictions of sexuality were less common, mainly due to the influence of the Church, which considered sexual depictions sinful. However, erotic subjects still existed, for example, in the form of miniatures in manuscripts and illustrations to poems.
With the beginning of the Renaissance in the 15th century in Europe, interest in the human body and sexuality returned. Artists such as Titian and Raphael created works that contained erotic elements. The invention of printing in the 15th century also contributed to the spread of erotic materials. In the 18th century, pornography became more accessible thanks to the development of printing and book publishing. The first pornographic novels appear, such as “Fanny Gill” by John Cleland, published in 1748. In the 19th century, erotic photos became popular, and the development of printing technology made it possible for mass reproduction of pornographic materials.
In the 20th century, the invention of the cinematograph and video cameras opened a new era for pornography. In the 1970s, the first pornographic films appeared for wide distribution, which brought significant profits and made pornography a part of pop culture. Also, at this time, pornography on magnetic media (videocassettes) began to develop, which made it even more accessible to a wide audience.
Modern pornography has undergone enormous changes with the advent of the Internet in the 1990s. Websites, streaming video and social networks have provided new opportunities for the distribution and consumption of pornographic content.
In many societies, sexuality has historically been associated with moral and ethical norms that define what is acceptable and what is not. When it comes to pornography, some societies consider it a violation of these norms, especially when it violates values such as the protection of minors, privacy, dignity, or respect for human dignity.
In the case of pornography that is created without the consent of all participants (for example, child pornography, hidden camera filming, “revenge porn”), such activity is unethical and illegal. Consent is a key element in determining whether sexual activity is legal or criminal. Any use of body images or sexual acts without consent is considered a violation of personal rights.
In different cultures and in different historical periods, sexuality and nudity were perceived differently. For example, in some cultures the naked body was considered natural and normal, while in other societies it was viewed as something that should be hidden. As societies and their legal systems developed, the norms governing sexuality also changed. This has led to different attitudes about what is acceptable and what is not. Many religions consider sexuality sacred or, on the contrary, dangerous, which has influenced legislation in many countries. Religious norms often dictate what is morally acceptable, and in some societies these norms have been codified into law.
With the development of technology and the increasing availability of pornographic content via the Internet, new forms of exploitation have appeared, such as illegal sharing of content and “revenge porn”. Legislation in such cases tries to cope with new challenges to protect people from illegal exploitation and abuse.
Foreign experience of combating the distribution of child pornography
Each country fights the spread of child pornography with its own methods. Most countries have laws that criminalize the production, distribution, possession and viewing of child pornography. These laws carry severe penalties, including long prison terms and significant fines. In some countries, life imprisonment is even provided for especially serious crimes related to child pornography.
For example, possession of child pornography in Great Britain is considered a criminal offense, and for an attempt to download it from the Internet, a fine of 150,000 USD is imposed on the violator. But Japan is stricter in this matter and deprives offenders of their freedom for a period of up to three years. Canada has passed a law that makes it a criminal offense to just Google content related to child pornography, even if the accused finds nothing.
But the most detailed regarding the attitude to child pornography can be considered the legislation of the USA, which contains a clear definition of the concept of “child pornography”, provisions regarding child pornography specifically on the Internet. US law requires providers to report the presence of child pornography on websites. Such materials are not only necessarily removed, but their owners are also punished.
It is worth noting that crimes related to child pornography are often cross-border in nature, so international cooperation is key. Organizations such as Interpol, Europol and Interpol work together with national law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and prosecute criminals. There are also international agreements, such as the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention), which promotes cooperation between countries in the fight against cybercrime, including child pornography.
Many countries and international organizations have established hotline networks and online platforms where people can anonymously report incidents of child pornography. These platforms often work in collaboration with law enforcement and children’s rights organizations to respond quickly to reports.
Technology companies are actively working to block and remove child pornography from the Internet. Some countries are implementing censorship measures to limit access to websites that host child pornography. For example, Google, Microsoft, Facebook implement special algorithms and tools to detect and block child pornography on their platforms. For example, Microsoft has developed PhotoDNA technology, which helps identify and remove images of child pornography from the Internet. Other technologies include machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect prohibited content.
The innocence of children is the most precious treasure of our society, but this innocence is under a terrible threat that relentlessly and cruelly undermines the foundations of their protection. Pornographic crimes against children are not just numbers and statistics, they are real tragedies that leave deep scars on the souls of the smallest and most vulnerable members of our society.
Every case of such a crime is a cry for help that cannot be ignored. We cannot stand aside when it comes to protecting children. Society must unite its efforts to ensure effective protection, strengthen laws and take all possible measures to prevent such crimes. Parents should be attentive to their children, and not stick a phone or tablet in their hands with the words “Go play, because I never have.” After all, you leave your child alone with the global digital world, which is not always friendly and ready to teach only useful things. It must be clearly understood that the greatest threat of access to pornography is precisely related to children’s unlimited access to gadgets at an age when they are not yet intellectually and psychologically prepared for all the risks they may face in the modern world. Let’s work together to create an environment where innocence is not only protected, but also sacredly respected. This is not just a duty, but a moral imperative of each of us.
