One of the most frequent cases encountered by digital forensic examiners is the possession of child pornography. A major challenge for the examiner is characterizing the activities of the suspect – understanding how the suspect seeks out child pornography helps to meet that challenge. Because the web activities of a suspect are one of the most common features analyzed in an examination, understanding the demand for web-based child pornography is important.
A second reason for the study of web-based demand for child pornography is to provide an academic basis for statements related to the quantity of the activity. Those proposing particular legislation targeted at combating child pornography may tend to exaggerate the activities, whereas defense counsels may downplay the relationships between child pornography and particular search terms. By performing similarity analysis, we can provide accurate information to both parties without prejudice.