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An AFP investigation into online child abuse offences has led to a man also being charged with allegedly concealing a camera in a bedroom and recording a woman undressing.

A man, 46, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday (19 August, 2026), charged with using a surveillance device to record a private activity, as well as possessing and transmitting child abuse material.

The AFP charged the man after a forensic review of a mobile phone seized during a search warrant in June, 2026, at a home in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs. The warrant was executed after the AFP investigated a referral from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The forensic examination of the devices allegedly revealed images of a woman undressing in a bedroom, and several files allegedly identified as child abuse material.

The AFP will allege the man used a motion-sensor camera to record footage of a woman.

Police will allege the child abuse material was accessed online.

The man has been charged with:

• One count of using an optical surveillance device, contrary to section 6(1)(a) of the Surveillance Device Act (WA). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment;
• One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years’ imprisonment; and
• Two counts of transmitting child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.

The man appeared in Perth Magistrates Court and was granted bail to reappear before the same court today (16 October, 2026).

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Dave Blockley said what began as an investigation into alleged online child exploitation offending led AFP members to uncover additional alleged criminal conduct through detailed digital forensic analysis.

“Everyone has a right to privacy and the AFP will take action on allegations that technology has been used to secretly record private activities if we find it in our investigations,” Det a/Insp Blockley said.

“This investigation also identified alleged online child abuse offences, which remain a priority area for the AFP.”

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.

Note to media

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

• indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.