The dark web, a hidden part of the internet accessible only through specialized software like the Tor Browser, is notorious for hosting a variety of illegal activities, including the distribution of explicit sexual material and sexually exploitative content involving minors. This article explores the illegal methods and realities of these activities on the dark web, providing insights into the processes, risks, and considerations involved.

Accessing the Dark Web

To access the dark web, individuals must download and install the Tor Browser, which routes internet traffic through multiple relays to conceal the user's location and usage from surveillance. Once installed, users can enter the dark web by typing .onion URLs into the browser. However, accessing certain parts of the dark web often requires an invitation from someone who already has access, adding a layer of exclusivity and security for those involved in illegal activities .

Explicit Sexual Material on the Dark Web

The dark web is a proliferation of pornography, which can take on various forms, some of which are highly controversial and illegal. The platform’s design makes it virtually impossible to remove harmful posts or illegal content, and the organization behind Tor has resisted pressure to implement even basic safeguards.

How It Works

Forums and Chat Rooms: Explicit sexual material is often shared through forums and chat rooms on the dark web, where users can discuss their interests, share content, and coordinate activities. Examples include sites like "Kidflix," one of the largest-known pedophile sites in the world, which was dismantled by international law enforcement in 2025 1.

Marketplaces: Dark web marketplaces offer a range of explicit sexual content for sale, including videos and images that depict extreme and often illegal acts. These marketplaces operate much like e-commerce sites, with users able to browse listings, compare prices, and make purchases using cryptocurrencies 1.

Private Collections: Some users maintain private collections of explicit sexual material, which they share with trusted individuals or sell to the highest bidder. These collections can include rare or hard-to-find content, often commanding high prices 1.

Examples of Explicit Sexual Material

Extreme Pornography: This category includes content that depicts violent or degrading acts, often involving non-consensual participants. Such material is frequently shared on dark web forums and marketplaces, where users can access it anonymously 1.

Snuff Films: These are extreme and illegal videos that depict actual murders, often for sexual gratification. The dark web provides a platform for the distribution and viewing of such content, with some users even creating and selling their own snuff films 1.

Sexually Exploitative Content Involving Minors

Sexually exploitative content involving minors, commonly referred to as Child Sexual Abuse Material, is rampant on the dark web. Millions of child predators form sprawling online communities where criminal behavior escalates through the sharing of CSAM, grooming strategies, and the normalization of exploitation 1.

How It Works

Distribution Networks: CSAM is distributed through complex networks on the dark web, with users sharing and trading images and videos. These networks often involve encrypted messaging services and hidden forums, making it difficult for law enforcement to track and disrupt 1.

Production and Grooming: Some dark web users are involved in the production of CSAM, often by grooming and exploiting minors. They use the anonymity of the dark web to recruit and manipulate victims, sometimes even coordinating real-world meetings 1.

Marketplaces and Auctions: CSAM is also bought and sold on dark web marketplaces and through private auctions. High-value content, such as videos of very young children or content depicting extreme acts, can fetch high prices 1.

Examples of CSAM on the Dark Web

Kidflix: This platform, which was hosted on Tor, had attracted 1.8 million users globally between April 2022 and March 2025. It offered a vast library of CSAM, including videos and images of children being sexually abused 1.

Encrypted Messenger Apps: Some encrypted messenger apps on the dark web promote themselves as places for "dads, uncles, and babysitters" to chat, share material, and meet up online. These apps often require new members to upload sexually explicit images of naked children as a form of initiation 7.

Risks and Considerations

Legal and Operational Risks

Engaging with explicit sexual material and CSAM on the dark web comes with significant risks. There is no guarantee of quality or reliability, and users may fall victim to scams or be exposed to harmful content. Additionally, law enforcement agencies actively monitor the dark web and have successfully taken down several illegal marketplaces in the past. The use of cryptocurrencies adds a layer of security, but it is not foolproof, and transactions can still be traced with the right tools and resources 1,3.

Case Studies

The Kidflix Operation (2025): The dismantling of Kidflix by international law enforcement highlighted the scale of CSAM distribution on the dark web. The operation involved authorities from more than 35 countries and led to numerous arrests and the rescue of victims 1.

AI-Generated CSAM: A recent trend involves the use of AI to create and distribute CSAM. Offenders take images of children and apply deep learning models to create sexually explicit content. This method allows for the creation of new and unique CSAM, making it harder to track and remove 10,14.

Conclusion

The dark web offers a platform for the distribution of explicit sexual material and sexually exploitative content involving minors, providing a space for extremist ideologies to thrive and spread. Through forums, chat rooms, and specialized communities, these illegal activities are disseminated and radicalized individuals are recruited. The impact of these communities on society is significant, leading to real-world acts of violence and exploitation. As law enforcement agencies become more adept at tracking dark web activities, the future of these communities remains uncertain, but their presence highlights the dark underbelly of the internet and the lengths to which some will go to promote their illegal agendas.