Another crime that has increased in recent weeks, according to Europol, is computer virus attacks, something that is expected to “continue and scale up” in the future.
Spain has detected an increase in downloads of child pornography through the internet since the confinement began, a problem that also occurs in other European countries, according to a Europol report published this Friday.
The study, based on data provided by the member states, warns of the increase in cybercrime in the European Union in recent weeks, coinciding with the restrictions imposed on the population as a measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Production and distribution of child pornography on the internet is one of the crimes, according to Europol, “seems to be increasing lately”, a conclusion that the organization reaches “on the basis of a series of indicators”.
Pedophiles demonstrate “increased interest” in obtaining images of sexually exploited minors, and are confident that more children will be connected to the internet during the pandemic, according to the report.
Among the examples in the report, Spain is cited, where between March 17 and 24 there was an increase of 25% in number of connections for download of material with pedophile content, a trend that other countries have reported Also, reveals the report.
Complaints also increase.
Likewise, there is an increase in number of attempts to access web pages where this type of material is disseminated and in complaints from individuals about pedophile content, which also in Spain have registered a “significant increase” since the beginning of March.
The nature and volume of comments on forums used by child abusers has also grown, according to Europol.
The organization said it plans to continue evaluating the impact of the coronavirus crisis on child sexual exploitation “and to support relevant research,” the report said.
Other crimes.
Precisely the European Commissioner for the Interior, Ylva Johansson, alerted this week to this problem and announced that Brussels plans to present “soon” a strategy to combat child abuse.
Another crime that has increased in recent weeks, according to Europol, is computer virus attacks, something that is expected to “continue and scale up” in the future.
Furthermore, organized crime groups and actors backed by some states “seek to exploit the health crisis” to “take advantage of or advance geopolitical interests.”
Misinformation and fake news continue to expand, with “potentially damaging consequences for public health and effective communication” during the crisis.
