More than 1,000 child pornography cases in Cyprus have been recorded in the past five years, according to official police data.
The figures reveal significant fluctuations, with 2022 marking the peak at 241 cases. Since then, numbers have gradually declined. Arrests, however, have been falling since 2020, when 51 suspects were detained, compared with just 14 by August 2025.
This mismatch between the number of child pornography cases in Cyprus and the number of arrests highlights the challenges investigators face. Such offences are often linked to online platforms and international networks, complicating efforts to identify suspects.
Police stress that prevention and enforcement remain top priorities, through specialised cybercrime units and cooperation with Europol and Interpol. Public awareness campaigns targeting parents, educators, and children are also a key part of the response.
The internet nevertheless continues to facilitate the spread of illegal material, making it vital to strengthen technological tools and law enforcement training.
On 30 July 2025, the Supreme Court of Cyprus upheld the legality of using ICACCOPS, specialised software that tracks online activity through IP addresses in cases involving child abuse material. The ruling followed a defence appeal that questioned whether such technology could infringe on constitutional rights.
How ICACCOPS works
The ICACCOPS (Internet Crimes Against Children Child Online Protective Services) tool is widely used internationally, including in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and EU countries. It scans public peer-to-peer networks for known child abuse files, records IP addresses linked to uploads or downloads, and creates databases of suspicious activity.
The software does not intercept private communications or access personal accounts. Instead, it identifies digital traces that are already publicly available through file-sharing networks.
Once a suspicious IP address is flagged, police can request subscriber details from internet service providers through a court order, enabling searches, device seizures and possible prosecutions.
Internationally recognised, ICACCOPS has helped uncover thousands of cases worldwide and remains a key tool in tackling online child exploitation.
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