Reporting online child sex exploitation
How can I report instances of online child exploitation to the police?
If you are concerned about online behaviour that involves sexual exploitation of a child you can report it to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
The AFP Child Protection Operations team performs an investigative and coordination role within Australia for multijurisdictional and international online child sex exploitation matters. These matters include those from Australian State and Territory Police, government and non-government organisations (including Internet Service Providers and Internet Content Hosts), the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), international law enforcement agencies, Interpol and members of the public.
The AFP investigates online child exploitation which occurs using a telecommunications service, such as internet or mobile phones. The types of offences include accessing, sending or uploading child exploitation and abuse material.
Offences include accessing, sending or uploading child pornography or child abuse material and online engagement (grooming or procuring) of children under 16 years of age for sexual purposes. Investigations may also focus on Internet sites, both within or outside of Australia, that host child pornography and child abuse material.
Report any suspicious or inappropriate online behaviour.
If you know about a child who is in immediate danger or risk, call 000 or contact your local police.
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What if I am concerned about someone I know accessing or distributing illegal material online?
If you are concerned about someone you know accessing or distributing illegal material online, contact your local police. Viewing or otherwise dealing with certain material online may amount to a criminal offence.
In particular, it is an offence under the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 to use a carriage service (including the internet and mobile phones) to access, transmit, publish or otherwise distribute child pornography, or to possess, produce, supply or obtain child pornography. In addition, each state and territory has laws governing the possession of child pornography (please note that the definition of child pornography varies between states and territories).
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