A two-week operation run by Europol has led to the identification of 18 children who have been sexually abused worldwide, according to the agency. The work was carried out by the Europol Victim Identification Task Force (VIDTF). The task force brings together specialists from different countries and is focused on combating child sexual exploitation. During the operation, experts analysed data, images, videos and intelligence to extract leads that could help identify victims and offenders, or at least determine the country where the child sexual exploitation material was likely produced. Europol said it has been hosting VIDTFs since 2014. The task forces are designed to pool expertise and information from across jurisdictions, using investigative analysis of digital material and other intelligence. The latest update concerns a specific two-week VIDTF that resulted in the identification of 18 sexually abused children. Europol did not provide further details in the supplied information about individual cases, arrests or charges.