The FBI agreed with that sentiment. “The complexity and anonymity of these platforms means that no agency or country can fight these threats alone,” FBI legal attaché Nitiana Mann said in a the FBI’s statement. “As we continue to build bridges through collaboration and teamwork, we can ensure the good guys win and the bad guys lose.”
The Australian authorities also commented on the sophistication of the platforms used by the abusers, as well as their vast technological knowledge. They said suspects “used software to anonymously share files, chat on message boards and access websites within the network” and that the lengths that these alleged offenders went to in order to avoid detection makes them especially dangerous – the longer they avoid detection the longer they can perpetuate the cycle of abuse.”
Just hearing how vast the network perpetuating child sex abuse material are and how sophisticated and crafty the perpetrators are fills me with dread and makes me shudder. As we’ve seen from the senseless murders of Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger, these horrible abusers will even commit murder to avoid arrest. But then I read again, that nearly 100 bad guys were arrested by the tireless efforts of the good guys in both nations, with dozens of children saved, and I feel some hope.
Kudos to all law enforcement fighting the good fight to protect our children! And let’s not forget that we can be in the fight with them. If you see something, say something! Let’s all do our duty and report any suspicions we have of anyone using child sex abuse material.