How bitcoin was used to track down the 23-year-old behind the darknet's biggest child exploitation site

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For almost three years, 'Welcome To Video' was a covert den for people who traded in clips of children being sexually assaulted. 9News

For almost three years, "Welcome To Video" was a covert den for people who traded in clips of children being sexually assaulted.

"Children around the world are safer because of the actions taken by US and foreign law enforcement to prosecute this case and recover funds for victims," Jessie K Liu, an attorney for District of Columbia where the US case was filed, said. The site worked like this: anyone could create a free account. Authorities say users could download the videos if they paid in bitcoin, or if they earned points by referring new customers, or uploading their own videos. According to the indictment, the upload page on Welcome To Video stated: "Do not upload adult porn."

But in September 2017, authorities did something simple, according to the indictment: they right-clicked on Welcome To Video's homepage and selected "view page source." In March 2018, authorities searched Son's house and found the server for Welcome To Video was hosted in Son's bedroom. Authorities also seized eight terabytes containing 250,000 sexual assault videos. In total, 45 per cent of the videos analysed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contained images not "previously known to exist."

CNN has reached out to the DOJ to ask if they will request an extradition. South Korean police told CNN they haven't received an extradition request from the US -- and while he's in prison, Son cannot be affected by the US indictment.Experts say criminals are less likely to use bitcoin on the darknet following the case.

There are ways for bitcoin users to stay under the radar. But in general, authorities are catching up.

 

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