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The phenomenon of child pornography
and justification for their behaviour online. 292 In this way, the online sub-culture fulfils a socio-emotional
function as far as these individuals are concerned. It is a place where they are able to freely share their
views. Aspects of their sexuality are discussed and (information relating to) child abuse material, sexual
preferences, fantasies and events are shared. Legislation and regulations, and online and offline security
measures to remain under the radar of the investigative authorities are also discussed. 293 Experienced collectors
believe they are unassailable, judge the likelihood of arrest as low and have a low opinion of the
(calibre of ) investigative authorities. 294 It should be noted that some visitors to open Internet forums reject
sex with children and the collection of child abuse material, as they recognise the harmful consequences
for the child and therefore regard the abuse as being in conflict with the actual love for the child. 295
Summary using a pyramid model
Moran illustrates his analysis of digital offenders in the pyramid model shown below (Figure 1.1). 296 The
model provides an insight into the use of open and closed Internet environments, perpetrators’ modi
operandi and the relationship between hands-off and hands-on offences. It also shows why child pornography
is a cybercrime in most cases and why it can also be a high-tech crime in exceptional cases. We can
also add to the model that within each layer of offenders we can find individuals who themselves abuse
children. Similarly, within the ‘simple downloaders’ layer (generally individuals who are discovered in
investigations precisely because of their lack of technological knowledge in relation to obtaining digital
child abuse material), the police also find perpetrators who have abused children and have produced
images of this, but have not distributed them. 297
Figure 1.1 Moran’s pyramid model
Typology of Online <strong>Child</strong> Exploitation Material Users
Advanced Technology and Security
Moran INTERPOL 2009
Experts
Closed Traders
Open Traders
Simple Viewers
Number of Users Involved
292 Lanning, 2010, p.89.
293 Holt et al., 2010; Taylor & Quayle, 2003, pp.86-87.
294 Jenkins, 2001, pp.14-15.
295 Holt et al., 2010.
296 Moran, 2010.
297 Court of Zwolle, 17 June 2010, LJN: BM9626.
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