Hong Kong police arrest 21 men, including private tutor, for sharing indecent images of children

Hong Kong police have apprehended 21 men, including a private tutor, for their alleged involvement in creating and distributing indecent images of children on social media platforms. The suspects, aged between 19 and 47, formed a social media group where they shared the images, often obtained through upskirting and other covert means, for others to view and download.

Over 7,200 photos and 120 videos were seized from various electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and external hard drives, during a police operation dubbed Bravestrike. Superintendent Wong Yick-lung of the force’s Kowloon East regional crime headquarters revealed that some of the images were secretly filmed in public areas across the city, such as shopping malls, escalators, MTR stations, and other forms of public transportation.

Wong emphasized that a private tutor was also arrested for photographing a female student's intimate parts during lessons and sharing the images with other members of the online platform. Among the 21 men, eight were charged with possessing child pornography, while the remaining 13 face charges of unlawfully recording intimate parts and publishing intimate images without consent.

Bail was granted to the arrested individuals, who are required to report to the police later in the month. The police warned that individuals who view and subscribe to social media groups sharing indecent images of children are considered "accomplices" and can face prosecution if found to have encouraged or instructed others to film or upload the material.

Authorities are still investigating the number of victims and their ages, and will work with Interpol's International Child Sexual Exploitation database to trace the indecent material to its source. Parents are advised to remain vigilant for signs of sexual abuse if they have hired private tutors, who often have prolonged one-on-one time with their students.

Parents are encouraged to request a Sexual Conviction Record Check from the police for prospective tutors to ensure their integrity. Social media groups that share voyeuristic images of women, often secretly filmed and published without consent, have proliferated throughout East Asia, including Hong Kong. Last year, police arrested 10 individuals linked to an online platform selling upskirt images of women, which attracted nearly 9,000 subscribers and generated approximately HK$4 million in revenue, highlighting the lucrative nature of such criminal activities.

Under Hong Kong law, possessing child pornography and unlawfully recording intimate parts are punishable by up to five years in prison, while "producing or publishing child pornography" carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.