A South Australian man is expected to appear in Christies Beach Magistrates Court today (22 June, 2023) charged with possessing child abuse material.
The AFP South Australian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) charged the Aldinga Beach man, 18, on Tuesday 23 May, 2023.
The investigation began when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material via Pinterest.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at the man's home on 23 May, 2023 with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on electronic devices. The devices will be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Sergeant Joe Barry said the AFP had zero tolerance for anyone possessing child abuse material.
"Those who seek out child exploitation online material should be warned - we will identify you and bring you to justice, no matter where you are in the world," he said
"The AFP remains committed to targeting and identifying those who seek to harm children. We want to remind offenders that there are consequences for supporting this abhorrent industry, which includes imprisonment."
The man was charged with:
- One count of use carriage service to prepare to cause harm to, engage in sexual activity with, or procure for sexual activity, a person under 16 years, contrary to s474.25C of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- Three counts of possessing child abuse material, accessed using a carriage service, contrary to s474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
