The internet can be a dangerous place through which many harmful and illicit activities are conducted. The illegal trade of child sexually abusive material (CSAM) is particularly heinous, with its production inflicting deep and enduring physical and emotional tolls on its victims. Moreover, its distribution perpetuates the victimization indefinitely, as once something is uploaded to the internet, it is virtually impossible to erase. Many think of the CSAM trade as something confined to the dark web and the black market. However, ActiveFence research indicates these transactions often occur on the surface web using mainstream payment services and applications.
The following report investigates :