A 34-year-old woman accused of uploading child abuse material to social media is among nine people charged with more than 30 offences following raids across NSW.
Homes in Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong were searched by more than 140 officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police and Australian Border Force during the two-week blitz.
The nine accused range in ages from 18 to 62, and are not employed in roles with access to children.
A woman allegedly uploaded files containing child abuse material to a social media platform. (Supplied: AFP)
One of the most significant arrests, according to the AFP, involved a 62-year-old man from Wyongah who allegedly paid for live online sexual abuse material involving minors in the Philippines on three occasions.
“Another from Sylvania allegedly posed as a female and engaged in online sexualised conversations with minors and received sexually explicit content,” AFP Commander Brett James said.
“And a woman from Western Sydney allegedly uploaded 14 files containing child abuse material to a social media platform.”
In another instance, a 37-year-old man from Chippendale was the alleged administrator of “multiple online group chats where members posted and traded child abuse material”.
A 37-year-old man from Chippendale was among the nine people charged. (Supplied: AFP)
The accused face charges including possessing and soliciting child abuse material and engaging in indecent communications with minors — some of the offences carry a penalty of 20 years in jail.
Commander James said there had been a 41 per cent increase in reports of online child exploitation since the previous financial year — a reflection of how easily predators can hide online and “exploit our vulnerable”.
“These numbers are confronting, but they drive home why we need a community and a law enforcement response.
“The more that we see, the better that we can respond to it, which means that ultimately we can protect more children.”
The raids took place in homes in Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong. (Supplied: AFP)
Parents urged to talk to their children
Parents and carers are being urged to regularly talk to their children about online safety, despite how “uncomfortable” they may be.
“There are key questions to ask,” Commander James said.
“Who are your children interacting with? What privacy settings are enabled on their devices and what information are they publishing online?”
Children, he added, also needed to be made aware of what they should do to protect themselves online.
Commander Brett James says parents need to regularly talk to their children about online safety. (Supplied: AFP)
“If you’re unsure where to begin on these conversations, please visit www.accce.gov.au.
“There are resources there where you can find tip sheets and tips on how to talk to your children and how to start the conversation with them.”
Phones, laptops and USBs were among the more than 50 electronic devices seized during Operation Titan, which were being forensically examined.
“To the predators who think they can hide behind their screens, if you exploit our children, please expect a knock on your door from the AFP or our law enforcement partners,” Commander James said.
“Everyone online is traceable and we will find you.”