Government Launches Investigation Into Online Trade of Exploitative Content
By Thaliba Cader
The Sri Lankan Government has launched urgent legal and law enforcement interventions following reports of an organized online operation involving the buying, selling and distribution of private photographs and sexual content of women and children through social media platforms, particularly Facebook.
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said information received by the Ministry indicated that Facebook groups and other online communities were allegedly being used to trade and circulate private photographs and videos for financial gain.
The issue has drawn wider public attention in recent days following a series of posts and videos by social media activists highlighting the alleged activities taking place within these groups.
Fake Accounts and People Within Trusted Networks
Preliminary inquiries by the Ministry have identified cases in which individuals allegedly created fake accounts to attempt to sell photographs and videos of people known to them.
In some instances, the inquiries reportedly uncovered attempts to distribute or sell photographs and videos of female members of the perpetrators’ own families.
The findings have raised concerns about the extent to which online exploitation can occur within trusted personal and family networks, where perpetrators may already have access to private photographs or other sensitive material.
The Ministry has also identified groups that are reportedly being operated from overseas, adding an international dimension to the investigation and creating further challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Police Investigations Underway
Following its preliminary inquiries, the Ministry referred the information it had gathered to the Sri Lanka Police Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women and the Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID).
Investigators are expected to examine the individuals operating and participating in the groups, the circulation and sale of the material, and any wider networks connected to the reported activity.
The Government has said urgent measures are being taken to prevent women and children from becoming victims of online exploitation and to pursue legal action against those responsible.
21-Year-Old Arrested in Beliatta
The developments come as police intensify investigations into the circulation of exploitative and obscene material through social media.
Police arrested a 21-year-old man in the Beliatta area on Thursday (27), alleging that he operated Facebook groups and pages where photographs of women and children were shared in an obscene manner.
The arrest was carried out during a morning operation by officers attached to the Police Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse of Children and Women, including the bureau’s officer-in-charge.
Police took the suspect’s mobile phone into custody as part of the investigation.
Digital forensic examinations are expected to assist investigators in determining the extent of the alleged activity, identifying other individuals who may have been involved and tracing additional accounts, groups or platforms connected to the case.
The arrest follows growing concerns among authorities over the use of social media to circulate offensive and exploitative material involving women and children.
AI-Generated Content Adds to Growing Concern
Police have also raised concerns about the increasing circulation of manipulated photographs and AI-generated videos used to harass, humiliate or exploit individuals online.
The misuse of artificial intelligence has created new avenues for digital abuse, allowing altered or fabricated material to be produced and circulated without the knowledge or consent of those depicted.
The CCID has begun identifying Facebook accounts and online groups involved in such activities and is taking steps to disable accounts while pursuing investigations into those responsible.
Authorities say the problem extends beyond individual posts, with online communities potentially allowing harmful material to be repeatedly shared, redistributed and monetised.
Government Warns Parents and Guardians
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about children’s online activity and to pay attention to the people with whom they communicate.
The Ministry stressed that women and children can be exposed to online exploitation even within their own homes, highlighting the importance of awareness about digital safety, grooming and online abuse.
Parents and guardians who suspect that a child or family member has been targeted are encouraged to seek assistance rather than attempting to deal with the situation alone.
How to Report Online Abuse
Authorities have urged members of the public to report Facebook pages, groups and social media accounts suspected of facilitating exploitation, harassment or the circulation of harmful material.
Individuals seeking assistance with the removal of distressing or damaging social media content can contact the Computer Crime Investigation Division at ccid.report@police.gov.lk.
Complaints involving nude photographs, intimate images, compromising videos or other sensitive material that violates an individual’s privacy can be reported to dir.cid@police.gov.lk.
Information relating to suspected online exploitation can also be provided to the Computer Crime Investigation Division on 011 2381058.
The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said the Government is giving the matter its full attention, with urgent interventions being undertaken to protect women and children and pursue action against those involved.
As social media becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, the investigations highlight a growing challenge for law enforcement: preventing digital platforms from becoming spaces where private material can be exploited, circulated and used for profit, while ensuring that victims have effective avenues to report abuse and obtain support.
