How HSI Investigates Cyber Crimes and Online Child Exploitation

How HSI Investigates Cyber Crimes and Online Child Exploitation

The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) takes the lead on investigating a wide range of cyber crimes through its Homeland Security Investigations division (HSI). This includes things like computer hacking, identity theft, financial fraud, and perhaps most importantly – online child exploitation.

HSI has special units dedicated to pursuing cyber criminals and protecting children from abuse and exploitation online. It’s a massive challenge, but they utilize cutting-edge tools and techniques to track down offenders and rescue victims.

The Threat of Online Child Exploitation

The internet has unfortunately created new avenues for criminals to exploit and abuse children. Things like child pornography, sextortion, and luring/grooming are major problems today.

It’s estimated that over 45 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material are shared online globally each year. The victims in these materials often suffer lifelong trauma.

In addition, predators will pose as children online and try to manipulate kids into sending explicit images or meeting up in real life. This is often accomplished through chat rooms, social media, online games, and other digital platforms.

Child exploitation crimes are not limited to certain websites or services – they can and do occur across the entire internet. Offenders are constantly finding new ways to gain access to victims.

HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center

A major weapon HSI uses to combat online threats is the Cyber Crimes Center (C3). This brings together technical experts from various disciplines including computer forensics, malware analysis, and investigative research.

C3 personnel can examine digital evidence and de-anonymize internet activity to identify suspects. For example, they may be able to trace a specific image or video back to an IP address or geographic region.

In addition, C3 works with online service providers to quickly remove child sexual abuse material when discovered. Taking down this content at the source helps reduce further victimization.

Undercover Online Operations

HSI agents directly engage with child predators by going undercover in chat rooms, forums, peer-to-peer networks, and other online venues.

Posing as minors or sex traffickers, they interact with offenders to identify them and build cases. This provides the opportunity to rescue victims who may be suffering ongoing abuse.

In some cases, agents are able to determine the physical location of suspects and coordinate arrests with local law enforcement. However, many offenders use sophisticated anonymity tools to hide their true identities and locations.

Tracking Cryptocurrency Transactions

The rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has created new challenges for investigators. These decentralized digital currencies allow for pseudo-anonymous transactions online.

Offenders frequently use cryptocurrency to pay for child sexual abuse material or services. However, C3 agents are able to analyze the public blockchain ledgers that record these transactions.

Using blockchain analysis, they can sometimes trace funds back to specific wallets and suspects. This emerging capability gives HSI a new avenue for identifying perpetrators.

Collaborating with Tech Companies

Much of the battle against online child exploitation happens at the private tech companies who operate communication platforms and social media sites.

HSI maintains partnerships with major industry players to collaborate on detecting abusive content and reporting it to authorities.

For example, Facebook proactively detects over 99% of child nudity content and reports it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Such voluntary initiatives by tech firms are crucial.

Using AI and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are also being leveraged to combat online threats. For example, Microsoft has developed AI that can analyze chat logs and other communications to identify potential grooming behavior.

This automated approach allows platforms to flag suspicious activity at scale for human review. It’s much faster than relying solely on user reports or manual screening.

In the future, AI will likely play an even bigger role in detecting child exploitation as the technology improves.

Challenges Posed by Encryption

One major hurdle for investigators today is end-to-end encryption on apps and services. Encryption scrambles communications so only the sender and recipient can read them.

This protects user privacy but also allows child exploitation to go undetected in encrypted chats and messages. Meta (Facebook) estimates over 90% of child grooming reports it receives involve encrypted content.

Tech companies are reluctant to weaken encryption due to cybersecurity and user trust concerns. But law enforcement argues they cannot ignore crimes unfolding in these encrypted spaces.

There are no easy solutions, and the encryption debate involves important tradeoffs for society that require thoughtful consideration.

Using Legal Pressure

When websites or services fail to address child exploitation or cooperate with authorities, legal action can be taken.

HSI participates in criminal prosecutions of platforms that knowingly facilitate or turn a blind eye to child sex crimes. High profile examples include MySpace and Backpage.

In addition, civil lawsuits have been brought against tech companies related to child sexual abuse material spreading on their platforms. Legal pressure can help push firms to take more responsibility.

Educating Parents and Kids

While HSI attacks the supply side of child exploitation through arrests and takedowns, education helps reduce demand and protect potential victims.

HSI agents give presentations on cyber safety to schools and community groups. This teaches parents how to keep kids safe online and empowers children to avoid dangerous situations.

Basic tips include setting parental controls, monitoring kids’ activities, ensuring privacy settings are on, and having open conversations about online risks. See the Atlantis Police Department’s guide for more.

Reporting Suspected Abuse or Exploitation

Members of the public also have a role to play in combating online child exploitation. If you encounter something suspicious, there are options for reporting it:

• Contact the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or complete an online form
• File a report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST
• Notify your local police department

Signs of online child exploitation can include:

• Sexualized conversations with minors
• Sharing of child sexual abuse material
• Threats or blackmail linked to sexual acts
• Suspicious friendships or interactions between adults and kids

If you come across child sexual abuse material online, do not forward or share the content as that further distributes it. Simply document relevant details and report it through the channels above.

The Importance of a Comprehensive Response

Battling the constantly evolving threat of online child exploitation requires a comprehensive response across law enforcement, the tech industry, government, and society.

HSI’s cyber crime investigators are on the front lines targeting offenders and rescuing victims. But collaboration and vigilance is needed from all stakeholders to protect children in the digital age.

Through training, tools, policies, partnerships, and deterrence efforts we can help make the internet a safer place for kids to learn and explore.

But there is still much work to be done. HSI will continue marshaling resources and innovating new approaches to confront this challenge into the future.

References

ICE. “Child Exploitation.” https://www.ice.gov/investigations/child-exploitation

ICE. “HSI Cyber Crimes Center.” https://www.ice.gov/partnerships-centers/cyber-crimes-center

DOJ. “The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction.” https://www.justice.gov/psc/file/842411/download

Atlantis Police Department. “Cyber Crime Tips for Your Children.” https://www.atlantisfl.gov/174/Cyber-Crime-Tips-for-Your-Children

DHS. “Fact Sheet: DHS Efforts to Combat Child Exploitation and Abuse.” https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/05/03/fact-sheet-dhs-efforts-combat-child-exploitation-and-abuse