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​Online crimes against children: Insights from CPU director James McCabe

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​Online crimes against children: Insights from CPU director James McCabe

James McCabe, an Australian and former detective, has been at the forefront of Cambodia’s fight against child abuse since 2013.

As operations director of the Child Protection Unit (CPU), part of the Cambodia Children’s Fund (CCF), McCabe played a key role in transforming the child protection landscape.

Under his leadership, the CPU became a recognized authority in the investigation of serious crimes against children, including murder, sexual assault, and human trafficking. In recent years the unit has also taken significant steps to address the increasing threat of online crime against children.

Recognizing the need for a specialized response, McCabe led the establishment of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit within the CPU. This specialized group investigates cybercrime targeting children, such as online grooming and distribution of explicit child abuse material.

McCabe’s relentless efforts to protect children were recognized in 2024 when he was awarded the prestigious Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia. Additionally, five members of the CPU were honored for their contributions; This reflected the team’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable children across the country.

James McCabe is investigating a 24-year-old mother accused of killing her three-month-old baby in September 2023 in Kandal province.

Q&A with James McCabe

Can you provide some information on the increasing problem of online crimes against children, particularly in Cambodia, and how this compares to the global situation? Also, what steps are being taken to solve this problem, especially in terms of international partnerships and technological developments?

Crimes against children on the Internet are not specific to Cambodia but are a global problem. This requires a global response, and I appreciate the Cambodian government’s enthusiasm and determination to combat these crimes.

This area is challenging because technology-based and online platforms make it difficult to identify and track criminals. This forum that we are part of is very important to establish global partnerships with police agencies such as Scandinavian, Dutch, European and Australian police to share methodologies and technologies.

We have technology companies offering ways to detect child abuse material on devices. This collaboration helps improve the capacity of the Cambodian National Police to combat online crimes against children. I congratulate the government once again for its dedication to this cause.

As internet access expands across Cambodia, how can the National Police ensure that its efforts to combat online crimes, especially those related to child exploitation, go beyond just a small group of officers and cover the entire country? And how does Cambodia cooperate with international partners to combat cross-border online crime?

Investigators are looking for clues that will help identify the perpetrator of the brutal murder of a young woman in Tbong Khmum province in 2023.

This is the reality we face; internet is everywhere. Online crimes, especially those targeting children, transcend borders. Enable criminals in other countries to view or create exploitative content featuring Cambodian children; The opposite is also true.

We are working with the Cambodian National Police to forensically examine the devices and collect digital evidence. We also provide software and expertise to help them detect and prevent these crimes. This is not just about arresting criminals in Cambodia, it is also about cooperating internationally to stem the global demand for these supplies.

Do you see internet crimes in Cambodia today, especially against children, becoming a bigger problem compared to other types of crimes such as physical abuse? How has this issue developed in recent years?

The Internet is certainly a growing concern. This is an emerging form of crime and we have seen how it has become a bigger problem globally over the last decade. The Cambodian National Police understands this and is being proactive in staying ahead of these trends.

Whether it is organized crime, financial crime or online crime, crime evolves and we need to be alert to emerging patterns. Forums like this help us discuss and plan how to solve these problems effectively.

James McCabe (center) discusses the use of advanced technology to solve the problem with Cambodian police officials at the International Forensic Police Forum in Phnom Penh on September 25. Hong Raksmey

Since internet crime is a global problem, do you think the Cambodian National Police, especially its cybercrime and digital forensics units, are prepared to effectively address these challenges? How close are they to fully solving the problem?

The Cambodian National Police is aware of the problem and has established departments such as the cybercrime unit and digital forensics unit to combat it. These are relatively new but important steps.

They also draw on international sources such as databases of Interpol and other global organizations. This collaboration is key to identifying and classifying child abuse material online. I think Cambodia is moving in the right direction, but this is a long-term effort that requires constant updating of technology and skills.

CPU: Decade of impact

The CPU was established in July 2013 as part of a partnership between CCF and the Department of Home Affairs.

Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) founder Scott Neeson (left) and James McCabe at the 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for the Romduol Center, which provides comprehensive victim support and welfare services to children affected by physical or sexual abuse. Processor

It is dedicated to investigating serious crimes against children in Cambodia and setting new standards in child protection through the integration of skilled investigators, forensic experts and after-care professionals.

In response to the increase in cybercrime targeting children, the CPU established its first specialist unit in Cambodia four years ago to address internet-related child abuse. Since then the unit has investigated 118 cases of internet crime against children, alongside its wider work involving more than 2,617 major crime cases, including more than 300 murders.

The CPU’s continued success in tackling both offline and online crime underscores the importance of both domestic and international cooperation in protecting the country’s most vulnerable.

From left to right: CPU’s James McCabe, Mike Smith and Nick Rose. Provided