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The phenomenon of child pornography
three aspects is unknown and cannot therefore be expressed in figures. Statistical data concerning
the number of known perpetrators (from the police or the Public Prosecution Service, 364 for example)
and known victims (from care services, for example) only represent the tip of the iceberg and
therefore do not yield any information about the extent of the phenomenon. Nevertheless, there
is a demand for data that could provide pointers in relation to it. As Stol (2010) rightly notes: “In
order to tackle a safety problem, we must begin to gather information about that problem. […] The very first question
to which we must find the answer is, of course: how often does this problem occur?”. 365 As the safety issue with
regard to cyberspace is becoming more significant and more complex, whilst at the same time we
know little about it, the Cybersafety lectureship was created at the NHL Hogeschool [NHL University
of Applied Sciences] in 2008 366 . Within the scope of that faculty department, research was and is
being conducted into this issue, as part of the three research programmes ‘trends in cybercrime’,
‘youth and cybersafety’ and ‘business and cybersafety’. 367 Interesting research findings have already
been published in fields including the (overlapping) area of child pornography, 368 and more can be
expected in the future. 369
1.5.1 The number of perpetrators – safety in numbers
The number of individuals who are involved in child pornography (production, distribution, possession/
viewing of child abuse material) is not known 370 and is potentially on the increase. 371 Even so, (disputable)
estimates are published on a regular basis, and it is not uncommon for these figures to take on a
life of their own. 372 It is precisely because little is known about these figures that many authors borrow
information from one another and consequently statistics appear to be accurate (also known as the
copycat effect 373 ). However, certainly within the context of child pornography – a crime that is so closely
associated with the constantly developing online world – this must be avoided, unless the context (in-
364 See §3.5.4 for statistical data concerning prosecuted suspects and convicted individuals in the
Netherlands.
365 Stol, 2010.
366 Stol, 2010.
367 Stol, 2010.
368 One example is the publication by Leukfeldt et al. in 2010. This describes the findings of an exploratory
study of five cybercrimes, including child pornography.
369 Stol, 2010.
370 Quayle et al., 2008, p.27.
371 Report of the Special <strong>Rapporteur</strong> on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (Ms.
Najat M’jid Maalla), UN Doc A/HRC/12/23, 13 July 2009. In this report the Special <strong>Rapporteur</strong> stated that
750,000 ‘predators’ are connected to the Internet at any given time (it is not clear whether they are
therefore searching for victims or child abuse material) and that hundreds of thousands of searches for
child abuse material are entered on a daily basis. These findings are based upon a questionnaire that
was drawn up and then completed by governments, international organisations, non-governmental
organisations and the private sector in March 2009.
372 For that matter, this applies just as much to statistics concerning the number of victims and the extent
of child abuse material.
373 Leukfeldt et al., 2010, p.254.
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