79 Arrested as Dark Web’s Largest Child Abuse Network ‘Kidflix’ Busted

In a major international crackdown, law enforcement agencies have taken down “Kidflix,” one of the largest known child sexual abuse material (CSAM) websites on the dark web. The platform, which had over 1.8 million registered users, was dismantled on March 11, 2025, in a coordinated effort involving authorities from more than 35 countries.

3.5 CSAM Videos Uploaded Every Hour

Authorities say the platform was active from 2021 until its seizure and was designed to grow fast. Kidflix allowed users to stream and download CSAM and used a system that rewarded uploads and engagement with cryptocurrency-based tokens. These tokens could be used to unlock higher-quality versions of the content.

The scale of the abuse is massive. The platform hosted around 91,000 unique videos, totaling more than 6,200 hours of CSAM. On average, 3.5 new videos were uploaded every hour, many of which had never been seen by investigators before.

Arrests and Devices Seized

According to Europol’s press release, so far, 79 people have been arrested in connection with the site, including some who were directly involved in abusing children. Law enforcement has identified nearly 1,400 suspects, and the investigation is still ongoing. Officials also seized over 3,000 electronic devices and rescued 39 children from dangerous situations.

Seized site (Screenshot: Europol)

A Maliciously Profitable and Calculated Operation

Kidflix wasn’t just another hidden corner of the web. It was a highly organized and profitable operation. Users could earn tokens by uploading CSAM, tagging content, and verifying video descriptions. These tokens allowed them to access more material, effectively creating a system where abuse was monetised and encouraged.

The site’s infrastructure supported video streaming in low, medium, and high quality, a feature that set it apart from many other similar platforms and made it even more attractive to predators.

Europol’s Largest Child Exploitation Case

This investigation, dubbed Operation Stream, began in 2022 and culminated in two weeks of coordinated actions in March 2025. Europol supported the operation by helping process and analyze thousands of videos and cross-referencing evidence across borders.

“This is not just a cybercrime issue. Behind every video is a child who has experienced real abuse,” said Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle. “This kind of platform allows that abuse to be shared and perpetuated across the world. We must stop it at the source.”

Global Collaboration

The success of the operation relied heavily on international teamwork. Agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and dozens more played a role in tracking suspects, securing digital evidence, and identifying victims.

The server infrastructure behind Kidflix was seized by German and Dutch authorities, halting its operations and shutting off access to the vast content archive.