Police warn of sharing viral child porn video spreading on Facebook

(ABC7) — A video is spreading on social media and law enforcement says it's one you don’t want to see.

Local police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are warning Facebook users about a video depicting a child in a sex act that is being passed along at an alarming rate in part by people with good intentions.

“The first inclination is to put it out on social media. ‘Let’s identify the suspect, let’s identify the victim, let’s help police.’ While we appreciate the help that we may receive, when it comes to child pornography, we’re asking people not to put that video out there,” Maryland State Police spokesperson Ron Snyder said.

When it comes to video capturing a crime, police often use it to their advantage, asking for the public’s help. Snyder said this is not one of those cases.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are investigating the video on Facebook. It’s not known where the video comes from or when it was recorded.

“We’ve seen reports of it coming up in social media mailboxes both in Maryland and in various states across the country,” Snyder said.

The video continues to spread as people try to help by sharing the video, which is illegal.

If you do recognize the suspect or victim, police want to hear from you. However, do not forward the video to others if it ends up on your social media page.

“If you don’t know where the video or message came from, the best thing to do is just delete it," Snyder said.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is also asking the public not to repost the video. If you do see it, you can call 1-800-843-5678 or report it online to the CyberTipline.