SYDNEY — Australian police on Thursday charged a man, who “actively targeted” hundreds of children in Australia and 15 other countries.Ethan Burns-Dederer from Maryborough has been in custody since last February. The 27-year-old has been charged with 596 offenses after police found more 23,000 videos and images of the alleged abuse on his electronic devices, said the Queensland police.The Australian case comes amid concerns over child abuse after the release of millions of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial.The volume of images and videos meant the process of identification took “time, skill and commitment,” Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark of Queensland Police said.“We are seeing an increasing prevalence of children being groomed, coerced, or threatened into taking and sending sexual images of themselves, often through popular apps, games, and social media sites. The trauma that this causes a child is significant,” he said.A total of 360 of the victims have so far been identified and investigations were ongoing, Clark added.More than 200 of the victims were in Australia, with the rest overseas, mainly in English-speaking countries, police said. Police were still working with international partners to identify victims and “ensure they are provided appropriate support,” Clark said.The police said the victims were primarily aged between 7 and 15, who were “actively targeted children on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025.”Alleged victims were identified across 15 countries and that the matter had been extremely “disturbing and distressing” for the young people and their families, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.The accused faces 244 counts of producing child abuse material, 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure children aged under 16, as well as 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service, the police said.”Police will allege the man created multiple online fake profiles, both of male and females, and that he groomed, coerced and threatened young people into sending him sexually explicit material,” Clark told reporters.“Our investigators will not stop and I urge parents and caregivers to continue to take active and ongoing measures to ensure the online safety of young people,” said Clark. — AgenciesSYDNEY — Australian police on Thursday charged a man, who “actively targeted” hundreds of children in Australia and 15 other countries.Ethan Burns-Dederer from Maryborough has been in custody since last February. The 27-year-old has been charged with 596 offenses after police found more 23,000 videos and images of the alleged abuse on his electronic devices, said the Queensland police.The Australian case comes amid concerns over child abuse after the release of millions of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial.The volume of images and videos meant the process of identification took “time, skill and commitment,” Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark of Queensland Police said.“We are seeing an increasing prevalence of children being groomed, coerced, or threatened into taking and sending sexual images of themselves, often through popular apps, games, and social media sites. The trauma that this causes a child is significant,” he said.A total of 360 of the victims have so far been identified and investigations were ongoing, Clark added.More than 200 of the victims were in Australia, with the rest overseas, mainly in English-speaking countries, police said. Police were still working with international partners to identify victims and “ensure they are provided appropriate support,” Clark said.The police said the victims were primarily aged between 7 and 15, who were “actively targeted children on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025.”Alleged victims were identified across 15 countries and that the matter had been extremely “disturbing and distressing” for the young people and their families, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.The accused faces 244 counts of producing child abuse material, 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure children aged under 16, as well as 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service, the police said.”Police will allege the man created multiple online fake profiles, both of male and females, and that he groomed, coerced and threatened young people into sending him sexually explicit material,” Clark told reporters.“Our investigators will not stop and I urge parents and caregivers to continue to take active and ongoing measures to ensure the online safety of young people,” said Clark. — Agencies
Australian man charged with 596 child abuse cases globally
