The web’s hidden corners harbor a few of humanity’s darkest crimes. Investigators like Pete Manning dedicate their careers to navigating these harmful digital areas, working tirelessly to guard kids from exploitation and abuse.
When retired investigator Pete Manning talks in regards to the darkish internet, he’s drawing on greater than a decade of labor from 2010 to 2023. On this dialog, Pete shares what he witnessed inside on-line areas the place youngster abuse offenders attempt to cover—and why smarter instruments and cross‑company collaboration assist direct consideration to potential abuse content material sooner, so groups can give attention to discovering victims.
Disclosure: Pete participated on this interview in his private capability. He was not compensated and obtained no in‑form help. His views and opinions are his personal and don’t replicate the views or opinions of any authorities company, present or former employer. Pete now not conducts investigations and now not makes use of Thorn’s instruments on the time of recording. (Recorded July 2025)
The darkish internet, accessible by means of specialised browsers, was designed to offer anonymity and privateness. Whereas it could actually serve official functions, it has additionally develop into a haven for legal exercise, together with the abuse and exploitation of kids. The anonymity that protects journalists and activists in oppressive regimes additionally shields those that hurt essentially the most susceptible.
For investigators, the darkish internet presents what Pete calls “the last word puzzle”—monitoring down offenders who imagine they’re working past the attain of regulation enforcement. The dimensions of the issue is staggering, with some boards internet hosting a whole lot of 1000’s of consumer accounts devoted to essentially the most heinous crimes in opposition to kids.
Behind each investigation are actual kids whose lives dangle within the steadiness. On this transferring video, Pete shares his firsthand account of this essential work—the challenges, the emotional actuality, and the assets which are altering how investigators struggle on-line youngster exploitation.
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Video Transcript
“My mother and father had been each scientists, and I additionally wished a profession in science as nicely. However I nonetheless have that lingering, you recognize, urge to be in regulation enforcement.”
“My background was in microbiology and I obtained a grasp’s in forensic science, after which… I used to be employed by the Secret Service… and fortuitously, once I obtained in, I used to be put virtually immediately into an digital crimes job drive for New England.”
“In case you have a daily web browser and an web connection, anyone can get to the darkish internet.”
“Tor — the Onion Router — anonymizes site visitors… encrypts it… and permits customers to create hidden companies.”
“Now not would they use these conventional means on the web after they knew that regulation enforcement may observe them down… with Tor at midnight internet… they knew they might cover and function in plain sight.”
“Initially, it was virtually like that they had free vary. They might do something they wished to do as a result of they thought regulation enforcement didn’t have any expertise with Tor.”
“The offenders need to develop this actually tight commerce craft to maintain them from being caught… they study all of the strategies they will to maintain themselves completely secure.
“We had some boards that had half 1,000,000 customers… they weren’t all energetic at one time, however half 1,000,000 accounts on the darkish internet discussion board that was strictly for the abuse of younger kids is an unbelievable quantity. It’s virtually incomprehensible.”
“It’s the last word puzzle… you had such a dire crime and only a few methods of really monitoring anyone down.”
“We may make a major arrest… and we’d in all probability pause for 5 minutes… we’d do that bizarre ritual, we shake arms, say good job, after which we’d simply get again proper into one other one.”
“We’ve… rescued kids from the beds of their offenders on the time we made entry. We’ve watched kids develop up by means of the sequence of their movies and pictures… and that’s actually heartbreaking.”
“You’re pleased that you simply’re gonna make some kind of distinction in that youngster’s life… but it surely one way or the other simply turns into extra actual.”
“It’s fairly complicated… you spend six months watching a sequence of photographs… and then you definitely’re in that youngster’s home… that youngster. It hits you later.”
“We began utilizing among the Thorn options, in all probability as early as 2013, 2014… and it was dramatic. And I’m not simply saying that as a result of we’re on a movie podcast and I’m speaking to you. I’d have stated that from the very starting.”
“A few of what Thorn did was take that load off of our backs…
“It was a direct… quite a lot of the success we had was a direct results of what Thorn was in a position to present.”
“Simply understanding that there are individuals… investigators on the market on this planet that can go to the ends of the earth to rescue one youngster. Offers me quite a lot of hope.”
