FEATURE: HSI joins international partners to host workshop on child exploitation investigations

WASHINGTON — As a worldwide leader in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to partnering with international allies to create a safer environment for children.

One way HSI helps foster such an environment is through workshops like the one it hosted June 16-18, when HSI Hong Kong partnered with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service – Overseas Criminal Investigations Division, the American Institute in Taiwan, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, and End Child Prostitution and Trafficking International to share knowledge and techniques concerning online child exploitation investigations.

The audience of approximately 200 – consisting of Taiwan law enforcement, prosecutors and non-government organization representatives – received briefings on topics such as classifying sexual abuse cases; locating child predators online; establishing undercover identities; coordinating international operations; and responding to problems encountered during sexual abuse investigations. The workshop also covered lessons for interviewing suspected offenders, including properly preparing for an interrogation; utilizing technical information; and designating subsequent targets.

"HSI is dedicated to saving and protecting children from predators who seek to do them harm online," said Assistant Attaché Kendrick Yeung, U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong. "That's why this workshop is so important – because by sharing what we know with our partners, we increase the likelihood that children in dangerous situations can be saved. That makes it incredibly valuable and worth continuing."

HSI is a global leader in fighting the online sexual exploitation of children – including the production, advertisement and distribution of child pornography and child sex tourism.

HSI's Cyber Crimes Center offers state-of-the-art cybercrime support and training to law enforcement partners. Additionally, the center's Child Exploitation Investigations Unit uses sophisticated investigative techniques to target violators who operate on the Internet, including the use of websites, email, chat rooms and file-sharing applications. The unit's Victim Identification Program is also responsible for HSI victim identification efforts in relation to the sexual exploitation of minors and focuses on identifying and rescuing children who have been depicted in child abuse material.

Learn more about the Cyber Crimes Center and its Child Exploitation Investigations Unit here.