A South Australian man is expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today (30 July, 2025) after being charged with possessing child abuse material.
The South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) charged the man, 33, yesterday (29 July, 2025) after investigating a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material to a social media platform.
SA JACET investigators, comprising AFP and South Australia Police officers, allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at the man's Elizabeth East home yesterday (29 July, 2025) where investigators allegedly found child abuse material on an electronic device. A number of electronic devices were seized and will be subject to further forensic examination.
The man was charged with one count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Simon Lalic said the investigation highlighted how closely police around Australia and the world worked together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"The AFP and its law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to protect children and stop anyone involved in their exploitation or abuse," Det a/Supt Lalic said.
"This is not a victimless crime. Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) 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. 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.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
