Two Australian men from Queensland and New South Wales have been arrested as part of a global police investigation spanning 19 countries, targeting the alleged creation and distribution of AI-generated child abuse material.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested a 31-year-old man from Cairns, Queensland, and a 38-year-old man from Toukley, New South Wales. The arrests stem from Operation Cumberland, which was initiated by Danish police.
“AI technology is increasingly accessible, and the AFP’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) has witnessed an increase in AI-generated child abuse material in the past year,” said AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Kurt Wesche.
Both men, who are not known to each other, were charged with possessing child abuse material. During raids on their homes, the AFP allegedly found child abuse material on mobile phones and other electronic devices.
The two men were granted bail and are scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
Operation Cumberland began after a Danish national was arrested for allegedly creating and selling AI-generated child abuse material through an online subscription service. International law enforcement identified 273 subscribers worldwide and alerted the relevant authorities.
Detective Wesche emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating this crime. He also expressed concern over the increasing sophistication of AI, making it harder for police to determine if an image depicts a real child.
“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,” he added.
