Two Australians among dozens charged in global operation targeting alleged AI-generated child abuse

Two Australian men are among dozens charged as part of a global investigation into the alleged production of AI-generated child abuse material.

Two Australian men have been charged over alleged involvement in a global ring allegedly producing and distributing AI-generated child abuse.

The men, a 31-year-old from Cairns and a 38-year-old from Toukley in New South Wales, were charged this week with allegedly possessing child abuse material as part of an operation spanning 19 countries.
According to the Australian Federal Police, the investigation began in Denmark when local police arrested a man allegedly producing and selling material through a subscription service.

Two Australian men are among dozens arrested. Picture: Supplied/ AFP

Danish authorities allegedly uncovered 273 subscribers globally and tipped off the relevant law enforcement, leading to 25 arrests this week.

Further arrests are expected, the AFP said.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Kurt Wesche said the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation has witnessed an increase in AI-generated child abuse material in the past year.

“It is getting harder for police to discern if an image shows a real child, and we are concerned AI-generated material diverts our investigative resources from finding real children who are being abused and at harm,” he said.

“Although the children depicted in this material are not real, these criminal networks are still involved in the sexual exploitation of children.

“In Australia, it is a criminal offence to create, possess or share content that depicts the abuse of someone aged under 18; it is child abuse material irrespective of whether it is ‘real’ or not.”

Electronic devices were seized. Picture: AFP.

The AFP says they will be analysed. Picture: AFP.

The Cairns man has been charged with four counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service and was bailed to appear in court on March 19.

The Toukley man was charged with possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

Originally published as Two Australians among dozens charged in global operation targeting alleged AI-generated child abuse