Andorran Police Probe WhatsApp Groups Exposing Minors to Porn

Andorran police are investigating anonymous international WhatsApp groups that have added local minors without permission, exposing them to pornographic photos and videos featuring adults. The inquiry began yesterday afternoon following a single formal complaint from a mother whose child, aged 12 or 13 and in second- or third-year ESO or equivalent across various school systems, was included alongside numbers from France, Spain, Argentina, and other countries.

Police sources confirmed they have received only this one report so far, though affected families—primarily those of girls—have notified schools. Alerts from police and the Education Ministry prompted the Associació de Mares i Pares d’Alumnes de l’Escola Andorrana (AMPAEA) and Escola Andorrana branches to send letters to parents. These communications urged checking devices, adjusting privacy settings, and exercising discretion due to the children's ages, while providing safety guidance.

Investigators are working to identify group creators, administrators, and those responsible for adding participants. The foreign numbers suggest an overseas origin, potentially necessitating international cooperation, though the source of Andorran numbers remains unknown—possibly from compromised accounts. Police noted similar cases have occurred elsewhere. “We have one complaint from a mother. Now we must start the investigation and see where it leads,” they stated, warning that some children may not realize they were added or have yet to inform parents.

Schools and authorities outlined protective steps: limit group additions to contacts only, hide profile photos and status updates, disable location sharing, enable two-step verification, and install parental control apps. WhatsApp's minimum age is 13, with constant adult oversight essential. Families should promote open talks, encouraging children to reject unknown groups, avoid mutual additions without consent, report issues freely, and never share sexual images, memes, or stickers—which constitute crimes even among minors.

Police agent Ferran Jordan stressed the need for app education and awareness of penalties for distributing such material to children. Students from the Escola Andorrana, speaking at the 24th Consell General dels Joves, called for these groups' elimination, citing harm to youth mental health and demanding better digital education and oversight. The incident underscores broader digital risks, aligning with upcoming reforms to child protection laws and the penal code.