From 13 to 24 April 2026, 34 specialists in victim identification from Europol, INTERPOL and 31 countries worldwide gathered at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague to identify victims and perpetrators of child sexual exploitation cases.
As a result of the taskforce, 12 children were tentatively identified.
During the course of the action, experts analysed over 317 datasets on victims of child sexual exploitation (CSE), covering both genders and ages from toddlers to teenagers, and spanning diverse origins and national backgrounds.
The operation generated 204 leads, which have been forwarded to national authorities for further investigation.
Over 118 million unique files processed
Europol hosts Victim Identification Taskforces (VIDTF) twice a year. A few months before they take place, Europol experts triage data from Europol’s Image-Video Analysis System (IVAS) to identify and prioritise specific datasets for victim identification.
Since the deployment of IVAS in 2016, Europol has processed over 118 million unique files containing images and videos of child sexual abuse, contributed by various law enforcement authorities.
During the VIDTF operations organised between 2014-2026, the experts analysed 8 585 datasets, generating 3 484 leads (intelligence packages). Further investigations conducted by the national competent authorities have led to the identification and safeguard of 1 190 victims and the apprehension of 330 offenders.
Danny van Althuis, Team leader at Europol: Voluntary CSAM detection online may have stopped, but our dedication and mission has not. Europol will continue to investigate child sexual exploitation cases, identify offenders, and protect children. We cannot sit back and do nothing because millions of files remain. Behind every number, there’s a child. Our job is far from done.
During the taskforce, specialists analyse data, images, videos and intelligence to identify clues that may lead to the identification of victims and offenders, or at least help determine the likely country where the child sexual exploitation material was produced. Using Europol’s IVAS, they examine the material, group it into series, and upload it to the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database hosted by INTERPOL.
In turn, specialists provide Europol with information for cross-checking against its databases, helping to enrich intelligence packages for the countries where victims and/or offenders are believed to be located. These packages are then disseminated by Europol analysts to the relevant operational partners for further action.
Bringing together specialists from different countries at Europol has proven to be highly effective. It enables experts to share knowledge, leads to tangible results and supports a smooth and efficient exchange of information. As a result, the Victim Identification Taskforce format is being used more frequently and is increasingly recognised as a successful way of working together.
Help identify victims
Europol has recently added new items to its “Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object” page, which calls on all citizens to examine objects from child sexual abuse cold cases and see if they recognise any of them.
No clue is too small: Even the smallest detail could help identify and safeguard a sexually abused child. Since the launch of the platform, 31 victims have been identified thanks to anonymous tips.
The following countries took part in the VIDTF: Australia, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine and US.
The following EU agencies and international organisations also participated in the VIDTF: Europol, INTERPOL, Council of Europe.
12.05.2026.
