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The increase in SUVs and pickups: a growing challenge for pedestrian safety in the U.S.

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For much of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century, U.S. roads gradually became safer for pedestrians. However, this trend reversed around the year 2009. Since then, the number of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents has increased by approximately 75%, a development that has concerned the researchers responsible for road safety and public administrations.

Various factors have been identified as possible causes of this increase, such as distraction caused by mobile phones, drug-impaired driving, or the general increase in traffic. However, an investigation based on federal records and automotive industry data points to an element that has often gone unnoticed: the steady growth in the size of vehicles, especially SUVs and pickups.

According to this analysis, current vehicles are considerably larger and taller than they were two decades ago. This change is not just an aesthetic or comfort issue, but it has direct implications for pedestrian safety. Researchers estimate that between 200 and 400 annual deaths could be related to this increase in dimensions. Overall, this would represent approximately 10% of the recent increase in fatalities among pedestrians.

Experts identify two main reasons that explain why large vehicles are more dangerous. The former is the height of the hood. In traditional cars, an impact usually occurs in the leg area, often causing the body to be projected onto the vehicle. In contrast, SUVs and pickups have much higher hoods, which strike directly at the torso or even the head of the pedestrian. This type of impact significantly increases the severity of injuries and raises the risk of the person being dragged or ending up under the vehicle’s wheels.

The second cause is the reduction of visibility. As vehicles have grown, so have their blind spots. Tests conducted with three-dimensional scanners on some of the most popular models in the North American market show that areas with no direct visibility for the driver are now much larger than in equivalent models from the 1990s or early 2000s. This makes it difficult to detect the presence of pedestrians, especially children, short individuals, or users who are very close to the vehicle.

Several real cases described in the study illustrate the consequences of this issue. In some fatal accidents, drivers claimed not to have seen the victim before the impact. Subsequent reconstructions concluded that structural elements of the vehicle, such as the raised hood, the mirrors, or the side pillars, had significantly limited the field of view.

Automakers argue that new driver assistance systems can compensate for these limitations. Technologies such as automatic emergency braking or pedestrian detection are designed to reduce the risk of collisions. However,

different studies have shown that these systems do not work perfectly in all situations. Factors such as adverse weather, shadows, high speeds, or the presence of children can reduce their effectiveness.

Beyond technical issues, the expansion of SUVs and pickups also responds to economic and cultural reasons. These vehicles generate very high profit margins for manufacturers, who have progressively reduced the production of saloons and other conventional passenger cars. In parallel, advertising campaigns have associated large vehicles with concepts such as safety, prestige, strength, or personal success. This message has contributed to consolidating the perception that a larger vehicle is a better option for many families.

Road safety specialists insist that the size of vehicles is not the only cause of the increase in pedestrian deaths. Urban design, traffic speed, driver distraction, and other factors remain determinants. However, there is increasing evidence that the trend towards taller and bulkier vehicles has increased the risk for the most vulnerable road users.

In conclusion, the growth of SUVs and pickups poses a significant road safety challenge. Despite technological advancements, the combination of higher hoods and larger blind spots increases the severity of accidents and hinders the detection of pedestrians. This phenomenon highlights the need to continue researching and developing measures that better protect the most vulnerable users, balancing the safety of vehicle occupants with that of pedestrians.

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The drug market in Europe: new challenges for security and public health

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The European Drug Report 2026 highlights an increasingly complex reality for security officials, public administrations, and health professionals. Despite the efforts made over the last few decades, the availability of illicit drugs remains high across Europe, while the constant emergence of new substances and the evolution of criminal markets create new risks and challenges.

One of the main conclusions of the report is the consolidation of an extremely diversified drug market. Cannabis remains the most widely consumed illegal substance, followed by cocaine, which maintains high levels of availability in many European countries. At the same time, synthetic stimulants, such as amphetamines, methamphetamine, and synthetic cathinones, are gaining prominence and expanding the available supply for consumers.

From a security perspective, this scenario implies greater complexity for law enforcement agencies and organisations involved in the fight against drug trafficking. Criminal networks have demonstrated a great capacity for adaptation, taking advantage of new technologies, global trade routes, and digital channels to facilitate the distribution of illegal substances. The production of synthetic drugs within European territory also continues to represent a significant concern, especially due to the ease with which chemical formulas can be modified to evade legal controls.

Another notable element is the increase in new psychoactive substances. Every year, new chemical compounds are detected that appear on the market at a pace that exceeds the regulatory capacity of many states. This phenomenon complicates the identification of risks associated with consumption and increases uncertainty for both emergency services and healthcare systems. Among these substances, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, and new synthetic opioids stand out, some of which may have a potency far exceeding that of traditional drugs.

The report also warns about the evolution of the opioid market. Although heroin remains the primary substance in this group, the increasing presence of highly potent synthetic opioids represents an emerging threat. Experience observed in other regions of the world shows that these substances can cause sudden increases in overdoses and drug-related deaths if they are not properly identified and controlled.

Regarding social and health impacts, the use of injectable drugs continues to generate a disproportionate burden of harm, including transmissible infections, hospitalisations, and mortality. Despite the general decrease in this consumption pattern over the last few years, the need to maintain prevention, treatment, and harm reduction programs remains essential.

In light of this situation, security cannot be addressed exclusively from a repressive perspective. The most effective policies combine the prosecution of

organised crime with prevention, education, treatment, and harm reduction measures. Coordination between law enforcement agencies, health authorities, European institutions, and social services is essential to anticipate new threats and reduce the impacts associated with drug consumption.

In conclusion, the European Drug Report 2026 confirms that Europe is facing a dynamic and changing scenario. The diversification of available substances, the constant emergence of new synthetic compounds, and the adaptability of criminal networks demand a comprehensive response based on intelligence, international cooperation, and public health protection. Only through a balanced strategy will it be possible to effectively tackle the security challenges posed by the phenomenon of drugs in the coming years.

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Evolution of security in Portugal: stability with new challenges

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Portugal is still considered one of the safest countries in Europe, both according to official statistics and the main international safety indices. However, the recent evolution of crime shows a more complex reality: while general crime remains relatively stable, some specific phenomena—such as cybercrime, sexual offences, or juvenile delinquency—have increased and cause concern among authorities and the public.

According to the Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), during 2024 Portugal recorded an overall decrease in crime of 4.6%, with 354,878 reports, but violent and serious crimes increased by 2.6%. This apparent contradiction confirms a trend observed in other European countries: traditional crime is decreasing, but forms of criminality with a greater social and media impact are on the rise.

Thefts remain the most common crime, especially in large urban areas and tourist spots such as Lisbon, Porto, or the Algarve. At the same time, a significant increase in vehicle thefts, commercial robberies, and scams related to housing rentals and digital platforms has been detected.

One of the points that concerns the Portuguese security forces the most is the increase in sexual crimes. The number of reported rapes in 2024 increased by nearly 10% compared to the previous year, reaching the highest value of the last decade. Although the authorities attribute part of this increase to a greater willingness of victims to report, the phenomenon also reflects a growing social pressure on prevention and protection mechanisms.

Juvenile crime is another highlighted element. The 2024 RASI recorded more than 2,000 cases linked to minors aged between 12 and 16 years, with an increase of over 12%. Incidents in school environments and episodes of group violence also increased, especially in metropolitan areas. This phenomenon has opened a political and social debate about integration, social exclusion, and the preventive capacity of the educational system.

On the other hand, some structural indicators remain positive. Homicides remain at low levels compared to the European average, with rates below 1 homicide per 100,000 inhabitants. Similarly, domestic violence has decreased for three consecutive years according to official data, although it continues to account for one of the most reported crimes in the country.

Cybercrime is probably the challenge with the most future potential. Digital scams, phishing, identity theft, and cyberattacks have steadily increased following the pandemic. This evolution compels the Portuguese police forces to strengthen technological units and invest in digital intelligence and international cooperation.

Another relevant aspect is the citizens’ perception of insecurity. Various social and political debates in Portugal show a gap between objective data and public perception. There is a growing concern on social media and digital forums regarding immigration, radicalization, and the presence of violent groups, although official statistics do not indicate a widespread deterioration of security.

The Portuguese authorities insist that the country «remains globally safe», but they acknowledge that there are indicators that require constant monitoring and adaptation. In this context, Portugal faces a scenario similar to that of other European societies: less conventional crime, but greater complexity in the threats linked to the digital world, social cohesion, and urban security.

For the private security sector and citizen protection, this evolution implies new needs: greater technological specialization, preventive analysis capacity, and coordination among law enforcement agencies, administrations, and security companies. The security of the future in Portugal will depend both on police response and on the ability to anticipate increasingly hybrid and changing risks.

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Cybercrime is evolving into real-world physical threats

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Cybercrime is undergoing a worrying transformation: digital threats are increasingly accompanied by intimidation and actual physical violence. For many years, cyberattacks were mainly limited to data theft, the hijacking of computer systems or financial extortion via ransomware. Attackers operated anonymously, and pressure on victims was exerted exclusively in the digital realm. Today, however, this boundary is breaking down.

Various reports and research from security firms warn that some criminal groups have started using direct physical threats to increase the effectiveness of their attacks. The aim is to instil real fear among employees, executives and negotiators to force the payment of ransoms or facilitate access to the systems under attack. This development marks a new phase in cybercrime, where psychological pressure and personal intimidation are becoming a regular part of criminal strategy.

One of the best-known cases is that of Tim Beasley, an employee of the company Semperis. During negotiations relating to a ransomware attack against a US government organisation, Beasley received a suspicious package at his home containing a threatening note hinting at possible physical harm if he continued to participate in the negotiations. Such incidents, which were previously rare, are beginning to occur more frequently within the international security landscape.

The data clearly illustrates this trend. According to FBI figures, cybercrime incidents in the United States have risen dramatically over the last decade, exceeding one million cases a year. At the same time, the financial losses resulting from cyberattacks now exceed 20 billion dollars annually. But the most worrying development is the rise in physical threats associated with cyberattacks.

Studies by Semperis indicate that approximately 40% of global ransomware attacks in 2025 included threats of physical harm against employees or managers of the victim companies. In the United States, this proportion reached almost 50%. Criminals exploit personal data stolen during attacks—home addresses, telephone numbers, family details or financial information—to intimidate victims directly.

A particularly sensitive case occurred at a US hospital that had been hit by a ransomware attack. As Zac Warren explained, the attackers called nurses and healthcare workers directly, mentioning their home addresses and other private information to make them feel under surveillance. This type of intimidation aims to generate a high level of emotional stress and pressure the organisation into paying the ransom quickly.

The situation is particularly serious because many of the attackers do not carry out these threats themselves, but instead subcontract them to third parties. Some criminal groups use forums, social media or clandestine channels to recruit individuals willing to intimidate, stalk or physically assault victims. This phenomenon falls under the concept known as “violence-as-a-service”, which is being investigated by organisations such as Europol.

Just as there are criminal models such as ransomware-as-a-service, networks are now also emerging that offer physical intimidation services on demand. Actions can range from vandalising homes or vehicles to assaults, kidnappings or more serious attacks. US authorities have also warned of criminal networks known as “The Com”, linked to violent activities commissioned by cybercriminals.

The world of cryptocurrencies is one of the sectors most affected by this new reality. Investors and entrepreneurs linked to the crypto sector often publicly display their wealth or lifestyle on social media, making them visible targets for criminals. In recent years, there have been numerous cases of kidnappings and attacks against people involved in cryptocurrencies, particularly in Europe.

In France, for example, the police rescued the father of a cryptocurrency millionaire who had been kidnapped for ransom. According to various reports, the kidnappers had amputated one of his fingers to put pressure on the family. Cases such as these highlight the extent to which cybercrime and traditional crime are beginning to merge.

Experts believe this trend will continue to grow. As long as companies continue to pay ransoms under pressure, criminal groups will have an incentive to step up their intimidation tactics. The combination of mass access to personal data, global criminal networks and the ease of hiring illegal services creates a particularly complex environment from a security perspective.

This forces organisations to completely rethink their protection protocols. It is no longer enough to defend networks and servers: organisations must also protect employees’ personal information, limit public exposure and prepare protocols for potential physical threats arising from digital incidents. Cybersecurity is no longer just a technological issue; it has also become a matter of human security.

In short, cybercrime is evolving towards hybrid models in which the digital world and physical violence are increasingly converging. Attacks no longer seek solely to obtain money or data, but aim to instil real fear in order to make extortion more effective. This new phase represents one of the major security challenges of the coming years and is forcing businesses and institutions to adapt to a far more aggressive and complex threat.

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Today is bank holiday in Catalonia. We don’t publish any post. See you on Monday

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Artificial intelligence and IT security

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Cybersecurity is entering a new phase characterised by the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in both offensive and defensive operations. For decades, the sector had operated under relatively stable rules: discovering vulnerabilities was a slow process, developing exploits required time and specialist knowledge, and companies had sufficient time to fix bugs before they were widely exploited. This model, however, is changing rapidly.

A recent report from Google shows the extent to which AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape. According to the document, a criminal entity has been identified for the first time as using artificial intelligence to exploit a zero-day vulnerability capable of bypassing two-factor authentication systems in a popular web management tool. What is most significant is not just the specific attack, but the fact that AI is already being used in a practical and industrialised manner to accelerate offensive processes that previously required weeks or months of human labour.

The report also highlights the increased use of AI by groups linked to China and North Korea. These organisations are already using advanced models to identify vulnerabilities, generate exploits, and automate reconnaissance tasks on potential targets. At the same time, tools and semi-autonomous malware capable of executing entire processes with minimal human intervention are beginning to emerge. Platforms such as OpenClaw Github exemplify this new trend towards systems capable of orchestrating complex offensive operations in an automated manner.

This development implies a radical acceleration of the cybersecurity cycle. Previously, once a critical vulnerability was discovered, attackers needed time to understand it, create a functional exploit and adapt it to real-world environments. Now, AI can reduce this process to hours or even minutes. This eliminates much of the leeway that manufacturers and security teams traditionally had to deploy patches and protective measures.

The change particularly affects the classic model of “responsible disclosure” of vulnerabilities. This system was based on giving manufacturers a period of approximately 90 days before making public a vulnerability discovered by researchers. The model assumed that discovering vulnerabilities was difficult and that it would take attackers time to develop exploitation tools. Today, these assumptions are becoming obsolete.

Several security experts, including security researcher Himanshu Anand, warn that artificial intelligence has completely disrupted these timelines. According to this view, it can no longer be assumed that a researcher is the only one to have discovered a security flaw, because multiple automated systems can identify the same vulnerability simultaneously. Nor can we expect attackers to take weeks to develop exploits after a patch has been released. Current models are capable of generating proof-of-concepts and adapting malicious code almost in real time.

Therefore, the new reality demands a much faster response. Critical vulnerabilities are now treated as top priorities from the very outset. Companies can no longer wait for the next development cycle or the next sprint to apply fixes. Security teams need constant monitoring, immediate response capabilities, and automated tools capable of detecting and fixing threats in real time.

This scenario is also transforming the way software is developed. It will become increasingly difficult to imagine large applications or infrastructures being deployed without exhaustive reviews carried out by advanced artificial intelligence systems. What was seen as a limitation just a year ago – false positives and the “hallucinations” of large language models – is rapidly evolving into the opposite problem: tools that are efficient enough to uncover vulnerabilities that previously went unnoticed by human teams.

The result is a genuine digital arms race. Both attackers and defenders are using increasingly sophisticated AI to gain the upper hand. Organisations wishing to maintain high levels of protection will need to invest in advanced agents, automated analytics platforms, and AI-based detection systems. This will entail significant costs and further increase technological dependence on major AI platforms.

Ultimately, cybersecurity is entering a phase of rapid transformation. Artificial intelligence is no longer merely a supporting tool, but the centrepiece of a new model of digital defence and attack. The debate has shifted very rapidly from questioning whether AI was reliable enough to assuming that it is powerful enough to completely overhaul the traditional rules of IT security.

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Romania faces the challenge of ensuring safety

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The public safety situation in Romania is complex and marked by contrasts. Compared to other Eastern European countries, Romania maintains relatively moderate levels of violent crime, and major cities such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara continue to be regarded as relatively safe destinations for tourism and economic activity. However, the country faces significant structural problems related to corruption, organised crime, economic crime and political tensions linked to trust in institutions.

One of the main challenges is organised crime. In recent years, the Romanian authorities and European bodies have raised the alarm regarding the activities of networks involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering and fraud involving European funds. In 2025, the Romanian police reported the dismantling of over one hundred organised criminal groups, many of which were linked to drugs and financial crime. This phenomenon is particularly worrying because Romania is considered a strategic transit country between Eastern and Western Europe.

Corruption remains another key factor in the debate on safety. Despite the progress made in recent years and the pressure exerted by the European Union, several international organisations believe that administrative and judicial corruption still undermines public confidence in the state. A number of recent cases involving alleged fraud amounting to millions of euros involving European funds have strengthened this perception. In 2025, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) investigated a scheme with alleged links to organised crime involving fraud of around 100 million euros in public procurement contracts in Romania. Hundreds of cases have also been opened for economic fraud and tax evasion linked to companies and criminal groups.

Public safety is also affected by the rise in economic and digital crime. Cybercrime has grown significantly in Romania, particularly computer fraud, bank scams and attacks linked to international criminal networks. The authorities have stepped up police operations and technological investigations, but experts warn that the ability of criminal groups to adapt remains faster than the institutional response capacity in some areas.

In the social sphere, economic inequalities and poverty in certain regions of the country contribute to petty urban crime. Burglaries, thefts and petty crimes are the most common incidents in urban areas and transport hubs. However, rates of homicide and gun violence remain lower than in other European countries facing similar challenges. Police forces maintain a visible presence in major cities, and the government has stepped up security measures at strategic infrastructure sites and borders.

In recent years, concerns have also grown regarding political stability and foreign influence, particularly in the wake of the war in Ukraine and tensions with Russia in the Black Sea region. In 2025, the Romanian authorities announced the arrest of several individuals accused of conspiring against the state with alleged Russian contacts. These cases have intensified the debate on national security, disinformation and hybrid threats in Romania, a NATO member state and a strategic player in Eastern Europe.

At the same time, there are also concerns regarding the functioning of the judicial and police systems. Various protests and public complaints have raised questions about possible abuses, political interference and a lack of transparency within the Romanian justice system. This situation directly affects the public’s perception of public safety, as a section of the population believes that the fight against corruption has weakened in recent years.

In conclusion, Romania is today a relatively safe country in terms of everyday violence, but it continues to face significant structural challenges linked to organised crime, corruption and institutional trust. Public safety depends not only on policing, but also on the state’s ability to strengthen the judicial system, reduce social inequalities and maintain political stability in a regional context that is increasingly sensitive from a geopolitical perspective.

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A complex situation in France’s prisons

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French prisons are facing severe structural strain, a situation that is causing concern among both the authorities and security experts. The main problem is chronic overcrowding. According to data from the French Ministry of Justice, at the start of 2025 there were more than 79,000 people in prison, a figure that continued to rise throughout the year to exceed 84,000 inmates, whilst the official capacity of the prison system remains well below this. This disparity results in prison densities exceeding 130% in many facilities, particularly in the maisons d’arrêt, where remand prisoners and those serving short sentences are concentrated.

Overcrowding has direct consequences for internal security. In many French prisons, it is common for two or three inmates to share cells designed for a single person, and there are still cases of prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor. This situation increases conflict, makes it difficult for prison staff to maintain control, and encourages the emergence of criminal networks within prisons. Prison staff unions have for years been highlighting staff shortages, a rise in assaults and a general deterioration in working conditions.

On a political level, the debate on prison security has gained momentum following several violent incidents. During 2025, several French prisons were subjected to external attacks involving Molotov cocktails, burnt-out vehicles and even automatic gunfire directed at prison facilities. These incidents raised concerns about the ability of criminal groups to intimidate the state and reinforced the government’s stance in favour of tougher prison policies.

Another sensitive issue is Islamist radicalisation within prisons. France regards prisons as one of the main venues for jihadist recruitment and indoctrination. Following the terrorist attacks of recent years, the prison service has developed special monitoring units for radicalised inmates and enhanced surveillance programmes. However, several experts point out that staff shortages and a lack of resources make it difficult to effectively segregate radical prisoners from the rest of the prison population. This turns some prisons into spaces where extremist rhetoric is spread and criminal networks are strengthened.

Recidivism is also a key issue. Many experts criticise the French prison system for remaining too focused on punishment and not enough on rehabilitation. The lack of educational activities, the psychological deterioration of inmates and the difficulties in finding employment after release contribute to maintaining high recidivism rates, particularly among young people involved in urban crime and drug trafficking.

In response to this situation, the French government is primarily committed to expanding prison capacity through the construction of new prisons and high-security centres. President Emmanuel Macron has advocated strengthening the prison system to regain control over organised crime and street violence. However, human rights organisations and various sectors of the judiciary believe that building more prisons will not solve the underlying problem unless the excessive use of pre-trial detention is reduced and more effective alternatives to imprisonment are developed.

In short, the French prison system faces a combination of overcrowding, social tension, radicalisation and internal insecurity, making it one of the country’s major public security challenges. The situation reflects France’s difficulties in balancing a tough stance on crime, crime control and respect for human rights against a backdrop of growing political pressure on security policies.

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The use of AI in policing may result in reports of poorer quality

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Artificial intelligence is making significant inroads into police forces across the United States. Companies such as Axon claim that their automated writing tools can produce police reports more quickly and to a higher standard. However, a new study casts doubt on this narrative and raises important questions regarding oversight, report quality and institutional risks.

The research analyses police reports drafted with AI assistance and compares them with reports written in the conventional manner. The experiment was designed as a “triple-blind” study: neither the moderators reviewing the documents, nor the researchers managing the assessments, nor the participants knew which texts had been generated with the support of artificial intelligence. In total, 92 experienced police moderators—sergeants, lieutenants and senior officers with an average of nearly 22 years’ experience—reviewed 80 police reports using standard quality criteria.

The findings are particularly significant because they debunk a widely held belief: that AI-generated texts appear “better” simply because they sound more professional. The computational analysis confirms that AI-assisted reports use more complex language that is less readable and has a higher reading level. In other words, they use more elaborate sentences, more sophisticated vocabulary and a more formal structure. But this sophistication does not translate into a better operational assessment.

In fact, moderators rated the AI-generated reports lower in terms of precision and accuracy. Although the overall differences in quality were not huge, all the dimensions analysed showed negative trends for AI-assisted reports. And there is one particularly worrying detail: moderators approved virtually the same percentage of reports regardless of whether they were written using AI or not. Approximately 22% of the documents were approved “as they stood”, regardless of their origin.

This reveals a central problem: moderators do not detect the qualitative consequences introduced by AI. And even more importantly, they cannot identify which reports have been written with the support of artificial intelligence. When asked to distinguish between them, the results were equivalent to flipping a coin. Their ability to identify them was virtually non-existent.

This point is key from the perspective of security and technological governance. Many public policies assume that human oversight will act as a safeguard against AI errors or biases. But the study suggests that this confidence is misplaced. If moderators are unable to detect either the use of AI or the problems it introduces, the “human oversight” model can become a false sense of security.

The researchers identify two structural problems. The first is readability. AI systems tend to generate more complex and artificial texts, but moderators do not view this complexity negatively because internal quality criteria do not place sufficient emphasis on the clarity and comprehensibility of the text. This is particularly problematic because police reports are not only read by police officers: they are also reviewed by prosecutors, lawyers, judges, journalists and, in some cases, lay juries. A report that is harder to read is not necessarily a better report.

The second problem is architectural. Tools such as Draft One, developed by Axon, operate primarily on the basis of audio transcripts. This means that AI can only write what it “hears”. But many important elements of a police intervention do not appear in the audio: gestures, expressions, environmental context, visible objects or the officer’s direct perceptions. The moderators partially detected this lack of complexity, but continued to approve the reports nonetheless.

The research also challenges a common assumption in the debate on AI: that the problems can be solved simply by better training moderators to “detect” artificially generated content. The authors argue that this approach is misguided. Human detection is unreliable and is unlikely ever to be consistently reliable. That is why they propose more structural alternatives: retaining the original drafts, recording which data the AI has used, maintaining a history of amendments, and implementing automated audit systems.

Ultimately, the study highlights a deeper issue. Police reports are not merely administrative documents; they are narrative pieces with significant legal and operational consequences. A good report is not the one that sounds the most sophisticated, but the one that correctly selects relevant information, is comprehensible and stands up to judicial scrutiny. AI can improve the formal appearance of the text, but that does not guarantee better actual quality.

For security professionals, this research serves as a clear warning: incorporating AI into police workflows can reduce the administrative burden and speed up processes, but it can also introduce new, invisible risks to the very moderators tasked with overseeing them. The governance of these tools cannot be based solely on trust in human oversight. Technical mechanisms, audits and new quality criteria are needed, tailored to an era in which texts may appear flawless whilst concealing significant shortcomings.

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Europol intensifies the fight against online child sexual exploitation

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Europol has announced the results of a new international operation focused on the identification of victims of online child sexual exploitation. Between 13 and 24 April 2026, specialists from 31 countries, along with experts from INTERPOL, gathered at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague for a new edition of the Victim Identification Taskforce (VIDTF). The operation provisionally identified 12 minors who were victims of sexual abuse and generated over 200 investigative leads that have already been forwarded to the competent national authorities.

The initiative highlights the global dimension and the increasing complexity of child sexual exploitation on the Internet, as well as the need for constant international cooperation to combat this type of crime. During the operation, the experts analysed 317 datasets related to victims of various ages—from very young children to adolescents—and of multiple nationalities. The main objective was to identify visual, geographical, or contextual clues that would allow for the location of both the victims and the perpetrators of the crimes.

To this end, Europol has been using the IVAS (Image-Video Analysis System) since 2016, an advanced platform for the analysis of images and videos that allows for the classification and correlation of large volumes of child sexual abuse material. Since its implementation, the system has processed over 118 million unique files provided by various police forces from around the world. This enormous database facilitates the detection of patterns, the connection between cases, and the identification of new victims.

The accumulated results of the VIDTF operations between 2014 and 2026 show the impact of this model of international cooperation. During this period, more than 8,500 data sets have been analysed and nearly 3,500 intelligence packages for police investigations have been generated. Thanks to these actions, national authorities have been able to identify and protect 1,190 victims and arrest 330 offenders linked to child sexual exploitation networks.

According to Europol, the methodology of the VIDTF has established itself as one of the most effective tools in the fight against this type of crime. Bringing together specialists from different countries in the same environment facilitates the rapid exchange of information, the coordinated analysis of digital evidence, and the sharing of technical and investigative knowledge. This collaboration is especially important in a context where criminals operate transnationally and use encrypted platforms, anonymisation services, and distributed networks to hide their activity.

Another relevant aspect is the continuous growth of the volume of child sexual abuse material available on the Internet. Europol warns that, despite police and technological efforts, millions of files continue to circulate online.

The European body also highlights the importance of citizen collaboration. Through the platform «Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object», Europol publishes images of objects or visual fragments present in unresolved cases so that anyone can provide leads anonymously. This initiative has already contributed to identifying 31 victims thanks to information provided by citizens. The aim is to take advantage of any seemingly insignificant detail – an object, a logo, a piece of clothing – that may help locate the victim or determine the place where the abuses occurred.

The recent operation involved European countries as well as other regions of the world, including France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada , and Australia, among many others. This international dimension highlights that online child sexual exploitation is a global problem that requires a coordinated and sustained response.

Finally, Europol also emphasises the importance of the language used to refer to these crimes. The agency recommends avoiding the term «child pornography» and using expressions such as «child sexual abuse material» or «child sexual exploitation material», as the former may convey a false perception of consent or legality. Each image or video represents a real situation of abuse and victimisation, and the language used is key to adequately reflect the seriousness of the events.

These types of operations demonstrate that the combination of technology, shared intelligence, and international cooperation remains a fundamental tool for protecting minors and pursuing the criminal networks that operate on the Internet.

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