The recently reported cases of people found in the possession of, or attempting to publish, pornographic content involving minors on several social media networks have prompted the Judiciary Police (PJ) to issue a public warning to all people in Macau.
The unprecedented government statement was issued in at least seven languages, including Chinese, Portuguese, English, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Nepali.
According to the reports, in the last few days several people have been found to have attempted to publish videos showing pornographic material involving underage people.
The PJ stated that the warning was prompted by a notification by the International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as INTERPOL. They notified the PJ of the cases after social media network managers reported the incidents.
In the statement, the PJ described the cases and the modus operandi, saying, “some individuals in Macau have been using social media platforms or communication software to transmit or distribute pornographic videos with minors. We are highly concerned and the designated division has immediately been assigned to investigate.”
“The Judiciary Police has since cracked several cases related to pornographic materials with minors, and the people involved have been arrested and transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office. We shall continue cooperating with INTERPOL to prevent and combat crimes pertaining to child pornography.”
The cases mentioned in the statement involved at least five different people of Chinese, Filipino and Nepalese nationalities. The force is not excluding the possibility of more people being detained for these types of crimes.
According to the Penal Code, the production, sale, retail, import, export or distribution of pornographic materials involving minors by any name or means is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. The PJ notes that “procuring or possessing such materials for the purposes stated could be liable to the same penalty.”
Additionally, the authorities also issued a warning, saying, “anyone who profits from or makes a means of living out of these activities could face imprisonment of up to 8 years.”
The authority highlighted the fact that even if the transference of such materials occurs privately and among friends, these crimes are still punishable by up to three years of imprisonment. They warned the public not to search for, visit or download content from any websites containing pornographic materials featuring minors, and to be aware that such acts carry serious consequences.
The PJ also calls on anyone who knows of any activities of this kind to cooperate with the police and report any illegal activities that may endanger minors.
The Times tried to obtain a clarification from the PJ as to whether the force suspects the existence of a possible syndicate in Macau dedicated to the production or distribution of such materials, but as of press time it was not possible to obtain a reply.
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