The number of registered crimes related to child pornography has increased significantly in Baden-Württemberg over the past year.
The number of cases recorded rose compared to the previous year from 2416 to 4873 - a smooth increase of 101.7 percent, according to a response from the Ministry of the Interior to a request from the FDP, which is available to the German Press Agency.
The suspects are often minors themselves.
The so-called schoolyard pornography presents the investigators with huge challenges.
The propagators are often not even aware of the criminal relevance of their deeds.
The Ministry of the Interior reports a "mass dissemination of incriminating content via messenger services" such as Whatsapp.
While experienced perpetrators preferred services like Telegram, which they could use anonymously or by providing false personal details, children and young people mostly spread the content via their usual news channels.
Child pornography is, for example, images of serious sexual abuse of children.
The legal policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Nico Weinmann, said that instead of treating all crimes equally, "education, media education and preventive measures in schools and with parents on the one hand and consistent action against sex offenders on the other should be in the foreground."