An online child abuse platform with almost 2 million users called ‘Kidflix’ has been shut down, with Europol describing it as “one of the largest paedophile platforms in the world.”
In a press release published today, Europol said the international investigation, named Operation Stream, was led by Bavarian officers. The operation involved authorities from over 35 countries worldwide, including Irish Gardaí, and resulted in the identification of almost 1,400 suspects globally.
Kidflix, which was created in 2021, allowed users to stream and download child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Between April 2022 and March 2025, approximately 1.8 million users worldwide accessed the platform, uploading and sharing around 91,000 unique videos totaling over 6,288 hours of content.
On March 11th, German and Dutch authorities seized the server hosting Kidflix, which at the time contained approximately 72,000 videos. In total, 79 suspects have been arrested, some of whom were directly involved in the physical abuse of children.
Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle highlighted the human impact of the crime, stressing that online child sexual exploitation is not just a technical issue.
“There are real victims behind these crimes, and those victims are children,” she said.
EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner praised the international cooperation involved in the crackdown.
“The dismantling of this criminal network demonstrates the added value that EU agencies like Europol provide,” Brunner said.
Europol’s investigation resulted in the seizure of over 3,000 electronic devices and the protection of 39 children who were actively being abused. Authorities confirmed the operation remains ongoing, with further arrests anticipated.
According to Europol, Kidflix operated a sophisticated system using cryptocurrencies, allowing offenders to earn tokens by uploading material, verifying video titles and descriptions, and categorising content.
Child sexual exploitation is identified by Europol as a major threat to European security, a situation projected to worsen due to digital platforms facilitating easier distribution and access.