Police have busted the largest illegal pornography ring in Taiwan’s history, arresting hundreds of people connected to internet and Telegram forums sharing child sexual abuse images and footage of women filmed without their knowledge. At a press conference on Wednesday, investigators said the 449 men arrested so far were suspected of breaching Taiwan’s Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act, money laundering and engaging in organised crime. Approximately 180 subscribers, who paid in cryptocurrency and network tokens, as well as operational and management staff and video editors were among those arrested, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said. One of the arrested, a man surnamed Chang, is suspected of managing Chuangyi Sifang, Taiwan’s largest illegal pornography platform with a reported 5,000 members. Chang was allegedly running it on behalf of its alleged owner, believed to be in China, the Taipei Times reported. Chang and three others were “strongly suspected of committing crimes”, prosecutors said, and were detained. Sixteen others were charged and released on bail. Among those arrested were teachers, military personnel, IT workers and a small number of police officers, authorities told local media. More than 100 victims have been identified. Computers, phones, financial records and about $30,000 (£23,500) in currency from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China were also confiscated during the multiple raids in June and July, by police from 64 agencies and precincts across 17 Taiwanese jurisdictions. The operation targeted two platforms and two Telegram groups. Authorities said the trafficked content included sexual images of children and teenagers, and footage of women in restaurant bathrooms, bars, and other public places, filmed without their knowledge. Taiwan outlet, the Reporter, said perpetrators placed hidden cameras in restrooms. Taiwan’s government has been accused of not acting fast enough to address the spread of illegal pornography and child abuse images. Possessing child abuse images was criminalised only in 2023, according to local media. In April, the Women’s Rescue Foundation called for an increase in penalties for those who obtain such images, in line with those who create or supply them. Rufus Lin, the CIB’s hi-tech crime centre director, told a press conference on Wednesday it had been difficult to shut down the networks because they were run on overseas accounts and domains, even though they were operated and managed from Taiwan. Lin called for the accused to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and said the investigations were continuing. “Don’t think you can’t be caught,” Lin said. The problem has been particularly prominent since allegations involving the Taiwanese celebrity Mickey Huang came to light. Huang has been a well-known TV host for more than two decades. As part of Taiwan’s #MeToo movement, Huang was accused of assaulting women, including one who was 17 at the time. A police investigation later discovered Huang allegedly had a 4TB hard drive at home that included hundreds of nude and sexual images of women, seven of whom were underage. Prosecutors said Huang is alleged to have been a Chuangyi Sifang subscriber. Huang’s trial continues.