Supereoi, all web sentinels to protect minors from online paedophiles

The battle against child pornography never ceases. And investigators are forced to go upstream on the black web to stop online ogres. Those who approach innocent boys and girls pretending to be minors in order to lure them, establish an intimate relationship and abuse them. The photographic exhibition 'Superheroes - Let's protect children together', a journey into the heart of the battle against the black web organised by the State Police, thanks to the operators of the Postal Police, with the aim of combating child pornography, child abuse and grooming on the web. To make children, families, teachers and ordinary people understand that prevention is the weapon that saves potential victims. To make people aware of the work of the police officers who work undercover and represent the flying squads of the web, who silently monitor the virtual world and unveil its thorns.

Immagine della mostra fotografica “Supereroi” della Polizia di Stato, a cura di Ester Lo Feudo, Marco Domizi e Giovanni Marcellino

The exhibition, curated by Ester Lo Feudo, Marco Domizi and Giovanni Marcellino, stems from a real-life operation by the Postal Police. "This exhibition," Marco Domizi, assistant chief coordinator of the police, explains in a video interview with Sole 24 Ore, "was born after an investigation called Luna Park, which led to the arrest of hundreds of paedophiles worldwide. I and two other colleagues decided that we wanted to raise the awareness of the entire educating community, the community of citizens, grandparents, and the police on these issues'.

The stated goal was to create something that would reach people's bellies, to make everyone become superheroes, to counter these abominable crimes. The photos capture on the one hand the compromised innocence of children and on the other the corruption that surrounds them online: an eye spying on the children, a little girl crying with the bearded ogre calling her to silence, the usual children's games tinged with black, the shadow dragging a little girl away. Shots to invite us to reflect on the importance of combating online grooming.

Reminding everyone that the role of superheroes must be played by all adults and the educating community, with the aim of reducing the risks for minors. Shots to remind that prevention saves potential victims. "The web for children, for girls is very dangerous. You have to have a lot of awareness and definitely have mistrust. In my opinion', emphasises Domizi, 'these are two key words, especially when access to online platforms occurs at a very early age, as unfortunately often happens today'.

Immagine della mostra fotografica “Supereroi” della Polizia di Stato, a cura di Ester Lo Feudo, Marco Domizi e Giovanni Marcellino

The exhibition depicts, on the one hand, the emotional rollercoaster that unwitting children lured online feel and, on the other, the conflicting emotions of the investigators forced to swim up the stream of horror to apprehend online paedophiles. Often working undercover to put their computer skills at the service of justice, cleaning up that world tinged with black, the darl web. Handcuffing the adults who often pretend to be the minors' peers to establish a relationship of trust.