Cybercrime investigators were able to evaluate digital traces
To WDR-Information from the numerous raids over the past few months has provided new and many concrete results: The task force of the central and contact point for cybercrime in North Rhine-Westphalia (ZAC) at the Cologne public prosecutor’s office is now conducting proceedings against around 1,800 identified suspects. Including cases of sexual violence in connection with Bergisch Gladbach, the acts of abuse in Münster and hundreds of other people through reports from foreign authorities and organizations.
Only last summer, North Rhine-Westphalia had the abuse investigations with the ZAC bundled at the Cologne public prosecutor’s office. Justice Minister Peter Biesenbach (CDU) spoke of almost 30,000 references and digital traces of abusers in June 2020. The concrete proceedings against the 1,800 accused have now emerged from this information. Quite a good record for investigators – some prosecutors only expected a few hundred people to be identified internally.
Evaluation of the digital traces remains difficult
Because the work of the authorities to uncover the specific people behind the digital traces is particularly time-consuming and tedious. Many perpetrators hide behind pseudonyms in chat groups and forums and use encrypted messenger services. The vast majority of the accused are suspected of distributing and consuming child pornography videos.
–
