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NOT ALLOWEDOffence All of Belgium

Is it a crime to open or keep a child abuse video posted in a WhatsApp group, or to share it 'as a warning'?

In short

Yes, it can be. Knowingly accessing child sexual abuse images is a crime (level 2); knowingly keeping or sharing them is more serious (level 3). Do not share them, even as a warning; report them to the police or Child Focus.

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This rule in 82 seconds
Video transcript

A video showing child sexual abuse arrives in a WhatsApp group. You're thinking of forwarding it so everyone is on their guard. Not allowed: Knowingly accessing these images is a level 2 crime. Keeping or sharing them is level 3. Sharing in good faith, as a warning, is still a crime. The right way: Don't open the video and don't send it to anyone. Report it to the police (101) or Child Focus (116 000). Every share harms the child again. Consequences (Level 2 – 3 offence): Knowingly accessing: 6 months – 3 years prison; Keeping, sharing: 3 – 5 years prison; Possible ban: Working with children.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • An image or video showing a child engaged in explicit sexual conduct, or showing their genitals primarily for sexual purposes, is a child sexual abuse image. Images of people who appear to be children and realistic images generated by artificial intelligence also count (Criminal Code art. 170).
  • Knowingly accessing these images online or by phone is a crime (art. 174, level 2).
  • Keeping or acquiring the image is level 3 (art. 173). Sending it to someone, posting it in a group or distributing it is also level 3 (art. 171).
  • Sharing it in good faith to say 'look what is going on' is not exempt; the only exception in the law is for a recognised organisation that receives reports and passes them on to the police (art. 175). Do not forward the image to anyone; report it to the police (101) or Child Focus (116 000).
  • Images that two young people aged 16 or over take of themselves with mutual consent and share only with each other are not a crime. If the images are shown or sent to a third person, or if a third person tries to obtain them, this exception does not apply. There is also no exception if one of the young people is a close relative of the other or has authority over them, or if a position of trust or authority has been abused (art. 176).

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICEOffence · Criminal Code, level 3
Fine / payment
If the victim is a child, the judge can also ban the person for 1 – 20 years from teaching or from working, even as a volunteer, in activities involving children (art. 190).

Legal basis:Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), titre 3 ch. 3 « Les interdictions spécifiques et d…Strafwetboek Boek II, art. 190 (Justel NL)

Court / prison
Accessing: level 2, 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative to prison. Keeping or sharing: level 3, 3 – 5 years in prison; if there are mitigating circumstances, the judge can impose a lower-level penalty.

Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36

What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison. All penalty levels →

What really matters: the indirect consequences

What do these terms mean?

Criminal record
The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

Behind every image there may be a real child who was abused. Every time the image is shared, that child is harmed again.

Where can you go?

  • Card StopIf you shared your card details, call straight away: 078 170 170
  • SafeonwebForward suspicious messages to verdacht@safeonweb.be
  • PoliceTo report threats, blackmail or stalking: 101 or your local police station
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
13 / 14 statements in an official source
Checked: 02.11.2026
Last checked
23.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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