Sexual Predators Lurking on Whatsapp Busted by Spanish Police

(Photo : Reuters)

Spanish police said that they have arrested 33 people worldwide in connection with the explicit images in WhatsApp which is a clear manifestation of child abuse due to its violent content.

The rise of social media does not only pave the way to earn income by being a social media influencer. Some chose to use it as an avenue to earn income by making social media platforms as a means to promote prostitution most especially among the youth.

In the previous months, there have been many reports about child trafficking, child prostitution, and cyber-sex that are operated through social media platforms. Those reports were very alarming because minors are supposed to be treated well because they are expected to shape the future, but with what we have been heard and listened to in the previous reports, they are destroying the future of our youth.

(Photo : Pexels)

In a report from BBC News, the police force said that there are many explicit images in WhatsApp that are being treated as a normal image by many of its members. This is a very alarming report because WhatsApp is used as an avenue to sell children or youth with naked and explicit pictures. The worst part is it was also found that most of the members who posted explicit images are parents of the children.

The arrests were made in different countries across the three continents but most of them were arrested in Spain. Many of the arrested persons in Spain were below 18 years old, including a 15-year-old boy. It can be figured out based on the numbers that this social concern involves younger generations as the years go by.

There are also parts of the world that seem to commit this crime due to poverty. Police arrested two people in Uruguay for sending explicit or nude images in a group. One of the arrested persons was a mother who sent the naked picture of her daughter. This is indeed a clear act of child abuse.

In another report, a 29 year old was arrested not only because of downloading explicit images but also for encouraging some of its members to make contact with the girls. Most of the victims are migrants who are not likely not to go to the police due to their immigration status.

The arrest of persons involved in child abuse using WhatsApp is the result of efforts made by police in their two-year investigation after they received a tip through email. To intensify the investigations, they then tap the help of the Europol, Interpol, and the police officers in Ecuador and Costa Rica. Arrests were also made in the UK, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, Italy, India, Syria, and Pakistan.

Police officers said that the images uploaded in the group were phaedophilic content with extreme severity. Though it was also found out that some images are legal but not suitable for minors because of the severity of the images.

Meanwhile, it was made clear by the police officers that those who were arrested in Spain came from different races and backgrounds. They have not yet given the details of the arrested persons for some sorts of reasons but most of the arrested persons in Spain were men.

One of the arrested men due to child abuse in WhatsApp was from Italy. He went to a relative's home after he found out that an investigation was carried out concerning child abuse. He lived in Salamanca for a while but he was unaware that it was Spain's National Police who ordered his arrest. Moreover, the police are now making efforts to identify the children being abused using the WhatsApp for rehabilitation and psychological help.