San José police say 11 people are now in custody after a coordinated online chat operation that targeted child sexual exploitation, the latest move in a growing regional and national fight against digital abuse. The arrests stem from a multi-agency investigation led by the department's Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
According to San José Police Media Relations, the operation focused on stopping suspected offenders who use online chats to target minors. The post included an attached transcript that referenced an arrest made, but it did not provide names or list formal charges at the time of publication.
SJPD Arrests 11 Suspects in Chat Operation Targeting Child Sexual Exploitationhttps://t.co/6Z2Jji3Gpl pic.twitter.com/Y04PGMFzHG
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) February 11, 2026
What the police say
SJPD reports that detectives have been tracking a rise in what they call Sadistic Online Exploitation, a type of abuse in which offenders pressure or coerce children into creating violent or degrading material. As detailed by the San José Police Department, investigators executed a search warrant on January 13 that led them to a 16-year-old victim, part of what officials describe as an active and ongoing case.
Why this matters
National data suggests this is not an isolated local problem. Reports of online enticement and AI-related exploitation have climbed sharply, with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children noting large year-over-year increases in both online enticement and sadistic forms of exploitation in 2025. That surge has pushed law enforcement agencies to lean more on proactive chat operations designed to identify suspects early and intervene before abuse worsens.
How to report and get help
Anyone with information related to this operation or similar online activity is urged to contact Detective Sergeant O'Grady of SJPD's ICAC Task Force at [email protected] or 408-277-3214. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the P3TIPS app or by calling the department's tip line at (408) 947-STOP. The department notes that Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers may offer rewards for eligible tips.
Investigators say the probe remains active, and they may release additional details as they build cases and pursue charges. For the department's initial public announcement, see the post from San José Police Media Relations on X.
