Police Dismantle Major Online Network Selling Intimate Videos of Minors
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israel Police have dismantled a large network on Telegram that sold intimate videos and photos of women and minors, codenamed "Moving Tape." A 17-year-old is suspected of managing the operation, which allegedly generated hundreds of thousands of shekels. Dozens of customers have been detained alongside network administrators, signaling a broader crackdown on consumers of illicit content.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Police dismantled an illegal network on Telegram selling intimate videos of women and minors.
- The operation, "Moving Tape," involved a 17-year-old suspected of managing closed groups.
- The network allegedly generated hundreds of thousands of shekels by charging for access.
- Most victims were reportedly unaware their sensitive material was being sold.
- Dozens of customers have been detained alongside network administrators.
- Israeli law carries severe penalties for distributing non-consensual intimate content, especially involving minors.
Israel Police's Northern District Central Unit has dismantled a large-scale illegal network that sold intimate photos and videos of women and minors on the Telegram platform. The operation, codenamed "Moving Tape" by police, centered on a 17-year-old resident of northern Israel who allegedly managed several closed Telegram groups. He is suspected of charging users hundreds of shekels for access, accumulating tens to hundreds of thousands of shekels. The investigation began after a report to the National Center for the Protection of Children Online (Lahav 433), leading to a covert investigation to trace the suspect and map his network. Most victims were reportedly unaware their sensitive material was being sold. Following arrests of network administrators on Wednesday, police on Thursday began detaining dozens of customers nationwide who had purchased access to the offensive material. Police emphasized that buyers allegedly knew the content involved minors and was distributed without consent. The main suspects are expected to appear in the Nazareth Magistrate's Court for a remand hearing. This is not the first time Telegram has been linked to such scandals in Israel. Previous police operations have targeted similar networks distributing intimate content of thousands of Israeli women and girls. The encrypted app's relative anonymity makes it a target for cybercriminals, prompting ongoing intelligence efforts by police cyber units and the National Center for the Protection of Children Online. Under Israeli law, distributing sexually explicit material without consent is a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison. When minors are involved, it constitutes severe offenses related to child pornography. The current wave of detentions indicates authorities are pursuing not only distributors but also consumers who fund the exploitation.
