FBI 'ran 23 child pornography sites in a bid to lure and catch online predators', stunning unsealed documents reveal
- FBI reportedly operated almost two dozen child pornography websites
- Investigators allegedly used the sites to lure and catch online predators
- Revelation found in files obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union
- The sites 'advertised' and 'discussed' child pornography, documents say
- An FBI spokesman denied knowing about the 23 websites in question
The FBI reportedly operated almost two dozen child pornography websites hidden on the dark web to lure and catch predators.
Unsealed documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union revealed investigators had the authorization to run 23 such websites.
It had already been known that the agency ran the website, Playpen, to help identify users.
The FBI reportedly operated almost two dozen child pornography websites hidden on the dark web to lure and catch predators
The sites were, 'dedicated to the advertisement of child pornography, the discussion of matters pertinent to child sexual abuse', according to Ars Technica.
The agency's sites also monitored: 'methods and tactics offenders used to abuse children, as well as methods and tactics offenders used to avoid law enforcement detection while perpetuating online child sexual exploitation crimes.'
The FBI hoped to distribute malware to users of the sites so that they could be identified.
The new documents also revealed the trap sites were ran out of a government facility, and they were able to learn the identities and IP addresses of users.
The FBI sites were reportedly, 'dedicated to the advertisement of child pornography, the discussion of matters pertinent to child sexual abuse'
The new information was found in documents that were obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union
Cybercrime expert Fred Jennings told Ars Technica there is: 'no other way to read (the documents) than websites 1-23 were hosted at a government facility, with the FBI's knowledge and to the FBI's informational benefit.
'It's clever phrasing on their part.'
An FBI spokesman said he was unaware of an operation with 23 websites, according to a statement given to the website.
DailyMail.com contacted the FBI for comment.
Most watched News videos
- Prince Harry announces Sydney will host the 2018 Invictus games
- Road rage incident turns personal as drivers insult each other
- Mother kicks her young child out for voting Trump in school
- Clinton makes final appearance at campaign headquarters
- New Marks and Spencer Christmas ad places Mrs Claus as hero
- Father surprises his daughter after he comes out of present box
- Huge brawl erupts at Artesian Commons Park in Washington
- Two dogs brutally attack mother and child outside their home
- Trump pledges not to take salary if President during 2015 rally
- Ruth Langsford fights back tears over 'final walk' dog Walnut
- Obama and Trump sit down to discuss the transfer of power
- Three-month-old baby appears to say 'I love you' to mother
- Was the Hillary hiking in the woods photo staged? Woman in...
- Hillary's last hurrah: Clinton greets her campaign staff one...
- EXCLUSIVE: Huma breaks down and weeps openly as she returns...
- 'I won't take even one dollar': Donald Trump has said he...
- From a modest home built by her father to the future First...
- How Obama out-manspreaded Trump: Body language expert...
- 'My mother kicked me out because I voted for Donald Trump':...
- Ripped female bodybuilder with an incredible 'ZERO per cent'...
- 'Mr Trump is unfit to serve:' Almost THREE MILLION people...
- Photograph that Taylor Swift claims is evidence that radio...
- Inside Obama's White House album: Photographer Pete Souza -...
- Film-maker Michael Moore is blocked by Secret Service on the...