Authorities Shut Down Coco.gg

Authorities Shut Down Coco.gg

Authorities Shut Down Coco.gg

On June 25, 2024, the chat website Coco.gg was shut down by authorities. The site had been labeled a “haven for predators” by various organizations. The closure followed a series of homophobic assaults and an ongoing investigation in Paris. The homepage of the website displayed a message from the National Gendarmerie announcing the shutdown, under the authority of Junalco, the national jurisdiction for combating organized crime.

Questioning of Four Suspects

According to sources close to the investigation, four individuals were questioned by investigators. Among them were the site’s owner, interrogated abroad, and his wife, who was taken into custody in Var. Laure Beccuau, the Public Prosecutor of Paris, confirmed that the site was closed as part of a judicial investigation led by Junalco.

Related article : France : Deadly Ambush Coco Chat Trap

Investigation and International Cooperation

The shutdown involved several entities, including the National Cyber Unit of the National Gendarmerie (UNCyber) and the National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF), supported by COMCYBER-MI. These operations were coordinated with Eurojust and took place in several European countries, including France, Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Hungary.

Reasons for the Investigation

The investigation, opened in December 2023, concerns serious offenses such as providing a platform for illicit transactions, pedocriminality, aggravated pimping, aggravated money laundering, and criminal conspiracy. Between January 2021 and May 2024, 23,051 legal procedures related to Coco.gg were opened, involving 70 public prosecutors and affecting 480 victims.

Reactions and Condemnations

Prosecutor Beccuau emphasized that Coco.gg facilitated various offenses due to its lack of moderation. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also reacted by announcing that he had referred the site’s activities to the judiciary. He praised the gendarmes for shutting down the site and apprehending those responsible for the platform.

Accessibility and Dangers of the Site

Coco.gg, marketed as a “no-registration chat site,” allowed users to join simply by entering their gender, age, postal code, and creating a username. The site, registered in Guernsey, featured an interface reminiscent of the 1980s Minitel.

Warnings from Organizations

For several months, organizations like SOS Homophobie and Innocence en Danger had been warning about the dangers of the site. SOS Homophobie called for its closure after a trap was set for a homosexual man in Marseille in October 2023. Innocence en Danger also highlighted the site’s accessibility to various attackers.

Recent Legal Cases

In April, four men, including two minors, were indicted after assaults in Saint-Pol-sur-Mer on victims who had arranged meetings via Coco.gg. In May, men were sentenced to prison for sexual acts with a teenage girl they met on Coco or Snapchat. The site is linked to a company registered in Bulgaria, though the owner is reportedly a discreet engineer based in Var, according to Le Monde.

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