First Tasmanian man jailed over AI-generated child abuse material after AFP and Tasmania Police raid

A Tasmanian man has been jailed after the Australian Federal Police conducted its first-ever sting of AI-generated child abuse material in the state.

Australian Federal Police. Picture: Supplied

A Tasmanian man has likely become the first person in the state’s history to be jailed over AI-generated child abuse material.

The 48-year old Gravelly Beach man was sentenced in the Launceston Supreme Court last week after police raided his home in May 2023.

In a statement, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said it had teamed up with Tasmania Police members in November 2022 to investigate the case, under the Tasmania Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (TAS-JACET).

The investigation came about after TAS-JACET received “multiple reports” that an Australian-based user was saving and downloading child abuse material from a website and social media platform.

Police identified the offender and executed a search warrant at his West Tamar home, seizing a number of devices included hundreds of child abuse material files – including a “significant amount” that was generated by artificial intelligence.

The man, who pleaded guilty to the two Commonwealth offences of possessing and accessing child abuse material via a carriage service, was jailed for a maximum of two years, with a non-parole period of 10 months.

AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the investigation was significant as it marked the first time police had located and seized AI-generated child abuse material in Tasmania.

The man’s conviction is also believed to be the first in Tasmanian history relating to AI-generated child abuse material.

“Child abuse material is still child abuse material, no matter what form it takes,” Det Sgt Hardcastle said.

“People may not be aware that online simulations, fantasy, text-based stories, animations and cartoons, including artificial intelligence-generated content depicting child sexual abuse are all still considered child abuse material under Commonwealth legislation.”

Det Sgt Hardcastle said whether of not the material was AI-generated or depicted a real child victim, the material was “repulsive” and “abhorrent”.

He said the Tasmanian JACET team would continue to identify and locate those sharing such content, and “put them before the courts”.

Follow @ambervwilson

Originally published as First Tasmanian man jailed over AI-generated child abuse material after AFP and Tasmania Police raid