A Queensland man is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today (7 July, 2023) charged with possessing child abuse material.
The AFP Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team charged the man, 24, on 18 May, 2023.
Police allegedly identified the man during an investigation into reports from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user uploading child abuse material to Twitter and Snapchat.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s New Farm home on 18 May, with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on a mobile phone. The device will be subject to further forensic examination.
AFP Leading Senior Constable Paul Graham said the AFP, together with international law enforcement partners, was committed to protecting children online.
“Anyone who views this material is committing a crime,” he said.
“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you possess child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
“This is not a victimless crime. Every time this material is viewed, it perpetuates the cycle of abuse against these children.”
The man was charged with possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth),
The maximum penalty for the offence 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.
