Skip to main content
Article
How Obvious Is It? The Content of Child Sexual Exploitation Websites
Deviant Behavior (2017)
  • Bryce Garreth Westlake, San Jose State University
  • Martin Bouchard, Simon Fraser University
  • Ashleigh Girodat, Simon Fraser University
Abstract
Those who distribute child sexual exploitation (CE) material in the public Internet potentially face greater risks of detection. While public distribution is prevalent, little is known about the structure of these websites. We investigate whether websites take steps to hide their purpose, and, if so, what steps are taken? We analyze 634 websites directly or indirectly, via hyperlinks, connected to websites hosting known CE material, and compare our findings to an automated examination of the same websites. We determine whether the initial visual representation is congruent with the underlying structure and content identified in the automated data collection. Implications for understanding cybercriminal processes are discussed.
Publication Date
2017
DOI
10.1080/01639625.2016.1197001
Publisher Statement
SJSU users: use the following link to login and access the article via SJSU databases.
Citation Information
Bryce Garreth Westlake, Martin Bouchard and Ashleigh Girodat. "How Obvious Is It? The Content of Child Sexual Exploitation Websites" Deviant Behavior Vol. 38 Iss. 3 (2017) p. 282 - 293
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/bryce_westlake/11/