Cryptocurrency and online child sexual abuse and exploitation

09.09.2024

As technology advances, the online exploitation of children has become one of the most pressing challenges confronting law enforcement worldwide.
From 10-13 September 2024, WB3C will host a workshop for law enforcement professionals and cybersecurity experts from SEPCA member countries, focusing on cryptocurrency and online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

The workshop is organized by WB3C in partnership with the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA), Council of Europe (COE), OSCE, Austrian Cybercrime Competence Centre (C4), and the Ministry of Interior of Serbia.
WB3C experts, together with our partners, will lead an intense 3-day program addressing three critical areas:

1. Cryptocurrency Investigations:
This session explores the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal activities, particularly involving children. Participants will receive practical training on blockchain tracing, asset seizure, and using specialized tools to track illicit transactions, including best practices for evaluating wallets and understanding derivation paths.

2. Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Online:
Investigators will receive training on disrupting illegal networks involving exploitation of children, focusing on international cooperation. The session covers psychological support for investigators who are dealing with this highly distressing issue, and discusses undercover operations, digital platforms used for child abuse, and methods for collecting electronic evidence.

3. Cross-Border Collaboration:
The workshop will enhance collaboration among law enforcement agencies from the region and international partners. The goal is to share knowledge, foster coordination, and provide updates on efforts to combat cybercrime globally.

This event marks a significant step in our shared mission to protect children from exploitation and hold those who use emerging technologies for illicit purposes accountable. Together, we can strengthen tools and techniques to safeguard vulnerable communities and dismantle criminal networks.

Other news and events

Upcoming

CyberPulse 2025: A Regional RCC Cybersecurity Conference

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) is pleased to co-host WB CyberPulse 2025, a high-level regional cybersecurity conference taking place on 2 July 2025 in Podgorica. Organised in partnership with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the European Commission (EC), the event will bring together key actors from across the Western Balkans and the EU to advance the region’s cyber resilience.

The conference will gather ministers, CERT/CIRT/CSIRT teams, EU institutions, international organisations, financial institutions, private sector leaders and civil society to engage in a structured and forward-looking dialogue.

WB CyberPulse 2025 will focus on:

Addressing current gaps in regional cyber capacities
Exploring the role of emerging technologies
Operationalising joint initiatives and partnerships

As a regional platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange, this conference represents an important step forward in aligning cybersecurity efforts with EU standards and building a more secure digital future for the Western Balkans.

Digital skills for cadets of the Montenegro Police Academy

This week, WB3C is delivering a tailored training on Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) for the second group of 10 cadets from the Police Academy in Danilovgrad, Montenegro. The training follows a recent WB3C visit to the Academy to better understand its curriculum and infrastructure needs.

With limited coverage of digital investigation methods in the Academy’s existing curriculum, WB3C has launched a series of hands-on sessions to build critical skills in cyber-enabled policing. A third group is already scheduled for training in December.

The training was opened by Academy Director Nenad Vojinovic and Head of WB3C Gilles Schwoerer, who explained the importance of digital skills in criminal investigation today and encouraged the cadets to embrace the digital dimension of modern law enforcement.

The course is highly practical and interactive and provides the cadets with techniques to find, extract and preserve open-source evidence in lawful ways. The training is led by WB3C in-house trainers Yannick Casse of the French Gendarmerie and Cyril C. of the French National Police who have substantial experience in the field.

WB3C is very pleased to be able to develop this relationship with the Montenegro Police Academy and contribute to the development of national capacities in tackling cyber crime.

WB3C Mission to Sarajevo

As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in cybersecurity, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) conducted a two-day mission to Sarajevo on 19–20 June.

The visit focused on engaging key national stakeholders who are already benefiting from WB3C training programmes, as well as identifying opportunities for deeper collaboration.

WB3C met with the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Delegation of the European Union, and the Directorate for European Integration to discuss the Centre’s strategic role in supporting regional capacity building and BiH’s participation in EU-aligned cyber initiatives. These discussions emphasized the importance of shared ownership, sustainability, and the active involvement of beneficiary institutions in shaping the Centre’s future direction.

As a follow-up to our May dialogue, WB3C also held a productive meeting with the Centre for Judicial and Prosecutorial Education of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to assess ongoing training needs and explore tailored programme development for judicial actors.