A music teacher from Swabia is suspected of secretly filming multiple girls from under their skirts during class. He is also being investigated on suspicion of possessing child pornography, according to the Bamberg Public Prosecutor General’s Office. The man is currently in pre-trial detention.
Investigation Led to the Teacher via Darknet Platform
He came to the attention of investigators through proceedings in North Rhine-Westphalia against users of a child pornography platform on the so-called Darknet, a hidden part of the internet only accessible with special software, where users can communicate or exchange data with a high degree of anonymity.
During a search of his home, officers seized extensive evidence, as reported by the Bavarian Cybercrime Central Office, which is part of the Public Prosecutor General’s Office.
Allegations Range from Secret Recordings to Assaults
Following the search, evidence indicated that the man may have made secret recordings of children in several music schools during lessons. In at least seven cases, he is alleged to have filmed from under girls’ skirts. “Furthermore, in at least two cases, a sexual assault occurred through superficial touching.”
The parents of the teacher’s students were informed about the investigation during information sessions. The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not provide any information on whether the accused has commented on the allegations. A spokesperson said no further details were available at this time.
Major Blow Against International Darknet Platform “KidFlix”
In April, investigators succeeded in targeting the “KidFlix” Darknet platform, which contained child abuse images, as part of an international investigation and identified numerous users. So far, nearly 1,400 suspects have been identified worldwide, 79 have been arrested, and several children have been brought to safety in Bavaria.
Despite masked cryptocurrency payments, money flows were successfully traced. The operation, involving 38 countries, is considered a significant blow against child pornography, although the operators have not yet been caught.
What Is Child Pornography?
German law defines “child pornography” as a photorealistic depiction of the sexual abuse of individuals under 14 years of age. The “pornographic” content of child pornography is based on the—sometimes severe—sexual abuse of minors. The distribution, acquisition, and possession of child pornography are considered crimes and are punishable under Section 184b of the German Criminal Code with a prison sentence of at least one year and up to ten years. This also applies to the attempted distribution and the retrieval of child pornography, which are also considered crimes punishable by at least one year in prison.
The law generally defines “pornography” as sexual acts that either depict a real sexual event or represent a fictional one. Since the legal changes in 2015, content previously classified as (in some cases, non-punishable) “posing” is also now considered child pornography.
The use of the term “child pornography” has become controversial, as it is often seen as trivializing the act. However, it remains in common use because the German Criminal Code uses the term “child-pornographic content.” The independent commission for the review of sexual child abuse recommends the term “depictions of abuse.”
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