In 4 years, PF carried out almost 900 arrests against pedophilia on the internet

The Federal Police’s Directorate for Combating Cyber ​​Crimes reported that, from 2019 to May 2023, more than 1,300 operations and almost 900 arrests were carried out related to cyber crimes of child/youth sexual abuse, also known as pedophilia. The operations are aimed at combating the abuse and sexual exploitation of minors under 18 years of age, through the identification, tracking, investigation and dismantling of child and youth pornography networks.

The year with the highest number of operations and arrests carried out in the last 4 years was 2022, with 447 outbreaks and 313 arrests. In 2019, there were 193 outbreaks and 150 arrests were carried out; in 2020, 218 outbreaks and 149 arrests; and in 2021, 304 outbreaks and 181 arrests. This year alone, up to May 18, 164 outbreaks and 97 arrests have already been carried out.

The most recent action was Operation Serpente, which took place on the 2nd of June, together with Interpol, with the aim of repressing the possession, availability and publication of photographs and videos with explicit sex scenes or pornography involving children and adolescents. Investigations were initiated based on information forwarded by Interpol, pointing out that Brazilians were sharing criminal content through a social networking application.