Status: 05/22/2022 10:55 a.m
Images and videos of sexualized violence against children often circulate in forums and on the dark web. Interior Minister Faeser therefore wants to strengthen the investigative authorities. She rejects any intervention in the encrypted private communication.
Investigating authorities should be more active in forums and on Darknet platforms to take action against the depiction of sexualized violence against children. The more investigations are carried out, the more perpetrators are discovered, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in an interview with “Bild am Sonntag”.
“In order to grasp the full extent, more staff and very good technical equipment are needed,” said the SPD politician. This applies to the Federal Criminal Police Office as well as to the prosecuting authorities of the federal states.
Faeser rejects the EU Commission’s plan
Faeser, on the other hand, rejects the EU Commission’s proposal to also search encrypted messenger messages when prosecuting sexualized violence against children. In mid-May, the EU Commission presented a draft law that would oblige providers such as Google and Facebook to use software to search their services for relevant images and videos.
An EU center with the appropriate technology is to be set up. The software should make the smallest possible intrusion into the user’s privacy and should not read any information other than that which indicates sexualised violence. According to the EU Commission, a total of 85 million images and videos were reported worldwide in 2021. The number of unreported cases is high.
“Incompatible with civil liberties”
“We have to take tougher action against this disgusting crime – especially at European level, in order to get to the big platforms,” said Faeser. “But we must not intervene in encrypted private communications and thus hit the many people who have nothing to do with these acts.”
It is a great achievement that the state is not allowed to look into every communication. “I don’t think it’s compatible with our freedom rights to check every private message without cause.”
Danger in the private environment is greatest
According to Faeser, images of sexualized violence are primarily disseminated in forums and on the dark web. Therefore, the investigators would have to keep an eye on them. Providers would have to inform the authorities immediately as soon as material is discovered.
The risk of sexualised violence is greatest for children in their private lives, said Faeser. “The perpetrator often knows his victim well and takes advantage of this closeness. We have to break this taboo.”
Expand support systems for women
With a view to the approximately 150 women who are killed by their partner or ex-partner every year, Faeser said: “There must be no trivialization. These are murders! We have to clearly call it femicide.” The state must admit that there is a big, dangerous problem and act accordingly.
In the case of domestic violence, the investigative authorities would have to be more sensitive. Immediately after the first violent attack, the perpetrators would have to be expelled from the shared apartment. “We need special police contact points with specially trained staff across the board.” The support system for women, especially the women’s shelters, should also be expanded.