[1][2][3][4] It opened in November 2015 with the intention of tackling a range of crime on the Dark Web, initially focusing on child sexual exploitation,[5][6] but also including international sex trafficking[4] and the sale of drugs and weapons on darknet markets.
[6] Its intelligence methods include analysis of data gathered through mass surveillance.
[3] Joint Operations Cell is a collaborative effort of GCHQ and NCA, co-located in Warrington.
[3][7] In November 2013, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said UK and US intelligence agencies would help fight child abuse images on the Dark Web that is inaccessible to search engines.
[8] He announced plans to create the Joint Operations Cell at the We Protect Children Online Global Summit in December 2014.