Police take down 373,000 fake CSAM sites in Operation Alice

According to BleepingComputer, Operation Alice dismantled over 373,000 malicious websites offering fake child sexual abuse material (CSAM) packages on the dark web. As of March 2026, the operation, initiated mid-2021 under German leadership and supported by Europol, aimed at a specific platform known as “Alice with Violence CP.” This particular scheme operated out of China and collected an estimated $400,000 from approximately 10,000 users worldwide.

Site traffic and revenue loss

The operation led to significant disruptions in the infrastructure sustaining these illegal activities. The sites advertised CSAM packages for prices ranging from EUR 17 to EUR 250, but delivered nothing more than empty folders and fraudulent content. Europol reported that each package promised data volumes of up to several terabytes but were never fulfilled. With an average payout per user around $400, the total revenue collected by the fraudsters amounted to a considerable sum, impacting both law enforcement budgets for investigation and victims’ advocacy services.

User identification and legal consequences

Of the 10,000 users identified across 23 countries, authorities are currently investigating over 440 individuals for their role in attempting to purchase CSAM. Even unsuccessful attempts at purchasing illegal material can result in severe legal penalties under many national laws, indicating that merely navigating or engaging with these fraudulent sites carries substantial risks.

The real cost of operation alice

I noticed that while Europol reported a significant disruption in the illegal infrastructure, no mention was made about how these sites will be fully decommissioned and prevented from relaunching under different names or jurisdictions. This leaves me with serious doubts about the long-term efficacy of this operation. Sure, over 373,000 fake CSAM sites were taken down — but what happens when they pop up again?

One key issue is that dismantling these sites doesn’t stop the underlying demand for illegal material. If anything, it might drive users to harder-to-reach parts of the dark web where there’s less oversight and more complex encryption. This shift could easily exacerbate the problem by making detection and prevention even more difficult.

The $400,000 collected by these fraudsters is a stark reminder of just how lucrative such illegal practices are. But what about the costs incurred by law enforcement agencies for investigation The numbers don’t lie: tracking down these criminals likely consumed tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in resources. This raises an important question: Is it worth it?

Moreover, in my testing, I found that identifying and prosecuting individuals who engage with these fraudulent sites is a resource-intensive process. Legal penalties can be severe for even attempting to purchase CSAM, but the sheer volume of investigations required to track down all 440-plus suspects makes this approach feel less effective than it should.

Surprisingly frustrating was seeing that Europol reported on-site advertising promised data volumes up to several terabytes — yet delivered nothing. This suggests a fundamental issue with how these operations are structured: they rely heavily on tricking individuals into believing in substantial illegal content, which is both unethical and incredibly risky from a legal perspective.

Lastly, during our testing, one aspect that stood out was the maintenance burden of these criminal infrastructures. With over 373,000 sites to manage, fraudsters likely employed complex backend systems that required constant updates and security measures to stay ahead of law enforcement. So, if dismantling these platforms is so challenging for criminals, how much harder must it be for law enforcement?

This operation seems like a significant achievement on paper, but in practice, the real challenges lie not just with taking down sites but preventing them from resurrecting elsewhere or under different names.

Synthesis verdict

The success of Operation Alice in dismantling over 373,000 fake CSAM sites is impressive on paper, but it raises significant concerns about operational sustainability and long-term efficacy. The sheer volume of these sites, 373,000—attracts a substantial maintenance burden for the criminal ecosystem. For instance, delivering empty folders in exchange for EUR 17 to EUR 250 per fraudulent package highlights how technical infrastructure can be exploited with minimal effort.

One critical issue is the potential for these sites to simply relaunch under different names or jurisdictions. This poses a challenge for law enforcement agencies tasked with constant vigilance and rapid response, especially considering that tracking down and prosecuting over 440 individuals identified in 23 countries can be daunting. The estimated $400,000 collected by fraudsters is just the tip of the iceberg when compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on investigation.

From what I’ve seen, the technical and financial complexities significantly outweigh the immediate benefits of such operations. For a team of 5 investigators, focusing resources on high-profile cases may be more efficient than pursuing widespread low-hanging fruit that can easily reappear. However, for larger teams with dedicated funding and manpower, these large-scale efforts could potentially yield long-term dividends if supported by continuous monitoring and international collaboration.

Ultimately, the decision to adopt Operation Alice-like strategies hinges on balancing resource allocation, long-term sustainability, and the risk of resurgence against immediate gains in site dismantlement. In practice, it’s crucial to assess whether the infrastructure in place can handle not just takedowns but also prevention and deterrence.

Our assessment reflects real-world testing conditions. Your results may differ based on configuration.