Operation Hawk

Source: FPJ

Context: The CBI arrested two individuals from Mumbai and Delhi under Operation Hawk, targeting international cybercrime networks engaged in online child sexual exploitation.

About Operation Hawk:

• What is Operation Hawk?

• Operation Hawk is a special anti-cybercrime initiative launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2025. It aims to identify and prosecute individuals involved in online child sexual exploitation with international digital footprints.

• Operation Hawk is a special anti-cybercrime initiative launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2025.

• It aims to identify and prosecute individuals involved in online child sexual exploitation with international digital footprints.

• Launched By: CBI’s International Operations Division.

• Objectives:

• Dismantle organized cyber networks targeting minors online. Strengthen international cooperation in combating cyber-pedophilia and child abuse. Ensure swift response to foreign complaints involving Indian citizens. Enhance digital forensics and cross-border evidence collection.

• Dismantle organized cyber networks targeting minors online.

• Strengthen international cooperation in combating cyber-pedophilia and child abuse.

• Ensure swift response to foreign complaints involving Indian citizens.

• Enhance digital forensics and cross-border evidence collection.

• Key Features:

• Cross-border Coordination: Works with global agencies including the FBI, Interpol, and local cybersecurity units. Targeted Action: Focuses on CSAM trafficking, sexual extortion (sextortion), and intimidation of minors. Robust Investigation: Involves multi-location raids, digital seizure, and legal action under IPC, IT Act, and POCSO. Precedent-Based Expansion: Builds on experience from earlier anti-CSAM operations.

• Cross-border Coordination: Works with global agencies including the FBI, Interpol, and local cybersecurity units.

• Targeted Action: Focuses on CSAM trafficking, sexual extortion (sextortion), and intimidation of minors.

• Robust Investigation: Involves multi-location raids, digital seizure, and legal action under IPC, IT Act, and POCSO.

• Precedent-Based Expansion: Builds on experience from earlier anti-CSAM operations.

• Previous Similar Operations by CBI:

• Operation CARBON (2021): Targeted the dark web users sharing CSAM across global platforms. Operation MEGH CHAKRA (2022): Conducted pan-India raids, based on Interpol inputs; resulted in large-scale digital seizures and arrests.

• Operation CARBON (2021): Targeted the dark web users sharing CSAM across global platforms.

• Operation MEGH CHAKRA (2022): Conducted pan-India raids, based on Interpol inputs; resulted in large-scale digital seizures and arrests.