Illegal Pornography

This chapter analyzes illegal pornography as a form of transnational, technology-facilitated crime that includes the production, distribution, or possession of material that violates criminal statutes – such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), non-consensual intimate images, coerced or trafficked pornography, and content deemed obscene under specific jurisdictions. Offenders are motivated by profit, sexual exploitation, or coercion and often employ encryption, anonymizing networks, and cryptocurrency to conceal identities and transactions. Key modus operandi variables include repeated use of hidden platforms (darknet forums, peer-to-peer networks), recurring payment routes, and re-emergence of the same administrators or digital infrastructure when sites are shut down. Emerging threats include AI-generated “deepfake” sexual content and sextortion schemes, which blur legal categories and complicate enforcement. Effective pattern recognition requires linking cases through shared technical indicators – such as persistent file signatures, wallet addresses, or platform characteristics – and coordinating investigations across jurisdictions and disciplines.