Operation Centurion: Australian Child pr0n Bust

[Meatplow]

So this has been ongoing for quite some time, I first read about in the paper several months ago.

Hundreds under suspicion over child animal photographs

Hundreds more people remain under suspicion of child animal photographsography crimes after 90 Australians were caught in a police net as part of a massive global crackdown.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) warned there could be many more arrests in Operation Centurion, which is linked to a wider Interpol investigation involving 170 countries.
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In Australia, about 1,500 people or individual computers have been identified in the investigation.

A policeman, four teachers and a sports administrator were among the Australians arrested or summonsed as a result of the six-month long operation.

Four children had also been removed from the homes of child animal photographs suspects in Australia, police said.

"This is really in many ways the tip of the iceberg," AFP assistant director of high tech operations Andrew Colvin told reporters.

Mr Colvin said federal police and state counterparts were still working their way through 2,800 IP addresses - the identifying digital codes linked to people's computers.

"What we're interested in is the networks - the passing, the sharing of images, the grooming, the procuring that goes on around these children," he said.

"People do share these images. In some instances it's a collectible."

Three people have been arrested in the ACT, 23 in NSW, 41 in Queensland, four in South Australia, one in Tasmania, 17 in Victoria and one in Western Australia.

Suspended federal policeman Michael Edward Hatch, 38, has pleaded guilty to possessing child animal photographsography and using a carriage service for child animal photographsography.

His sentencing hearing was due to begin in the ACT Magistrates Court Thursday, but was adjourned until 2pm (AEST) Friday.

Mr Colvin said it was disappointing a federal officer had been charged.

"It's always difficult when we come across one of our own in any investigation," he said.

The investigation was triggered after a hacker posted 99 child animal photographs images on a European website, which attracted 12 million hits in just 76 hours, including 2,800 from Australian IP addresses.

The four children removed from their homes were deemed to be in danger, but police could not confirm whether they appeared in any of the seized images or where they lived.

AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said 300 search warrants had been executed and more than a million images seized.

"Some of the images involve adults as well as children. The children range from babies to 18 years of age," he told reporters.

"We don't know whether these children are still being the victims of child abuse."

Mr Keelty said people had to prove themselves to become part of a child animal photographs network by supplying images.

Mr Colvin said those arrested were all men from different walks of life, ranging in age from 19 through to 80.

Alan Lilburne Melchert, 59, a board member of the West Australian Sports Federation, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on May 21 charged with three counts of using a carriage service to cause material to be transmitted to the person.

"I basically am a bit humiliated and ashamed that I've even looked at images like this that were freely available on the internet," Mr Melchert told Network Ten.

He has been granted bail to appear in the same court on June 11.

In Queensland, the number of people to be charged is expected to double from the 40, including four teachers, who have already been arrested.

Gary Bruce Bechaz, 55, of Reedy Creek in Queensland, has been remanded in custody after being charged with using a carriage service to access child animal photographsography and one count of possessing child exploitation material.

He is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on June 25.

In SA, arrests included three men aged 44, 52 and 60 from suburban Adelaide, a 69-year-old from the Adelaide Hills, two men aged 49 and 66 from the state's south-east and a 42-year-old man from Yorke Peninsula.

In NSW, Steven Thomas Ross, from Wentworthville in Sydney's west, appeared at Parramatta Local Court on May 26 charged with two counts of using a carriage service to access child animal photographsography.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on June 10.

All the people to appear in court have been charged with offences relating to the downloading and accessing of child animal photographsography online, which carry a 10-year jail term.

No one has yet been jailed as a result of Operation Centurion.

Thoughts?

[Berner]

So long /b/.

[Mister_Che]

Operation Centurion is a pretty badass name.

[beso negro]

The children range from babies to 18 years of age, he told reporters

lol

i feel for these people because it's obviously embarrassing although not that unnatural. either way if i had a 5 year old daughter i wouldn't want her noods plastered all over the web.

[Akira]

Silly Aussies.

[Jude]

Why is this worth discussing

[Against Miik!]

Its obviously all lies because all the Aussies here are still posting

[Meatplow]

I actually heard on the radio today a plea from the people behind this operation to not trust anybody with their children because it's exposing just how widespread pedophilia is.

They come from all different walks of life they say, it could be anybody. Paranoia?

[1338 h4x0r]

Yeah, who would have thought that perversion is, in fact, widespread? :lol:

[Volumnius Flush]

Pedophilia and child pornography are disgusting. But I think they should place more emphasis on the ones trading and collecting and distributing these images rather than prosecute someone who just stumbled on to it (which may or may not be the case). I think if you have accessed child pornography there is a difference between just happening to come across a couple pictures and never going back and those that do go back or even save the images.

But sometimes you see a girl who looks too young but then you're like, "naw man, this can't be a kid, she is too developed," but you actually are looking at it. Problem is, girls are growing up so fast these days its hard to tell sometimes.

[1338 h4x0r]

But sometimes you see a girl who looks too young but then you're like, "naw man, this can't be a kid, she is too developed," but you actually are looking at it. Problem is, girls are growing up so fast these days its hard to tell sometimes.

Just remember to use the bulk eraser on your hard drive as soon as the feds pull into your driveway.

[Volumnius Flush]

Just remember to use the bulk eraser on your hard drive as soon as the feds pull into your driveway.

What is a bulk eraser? And who said I looked at child pornography?

[1338 h4x0r]

A bulk eraser is a device that gives off a strong magnetic field and erases any magnetic media (mainly tapes and hard drives).

I don't know if you've looked at child pr0n but you seem to something about it.

[Volumnius Flush]

A bulk eraser is a device that gives off a strong magnetic field and erases any magnetic media (mainly tapes and hard drives).

I don't know if you've looked at child pr0n but you seem to something about it.

I am just using logic. Some girls just don't look their age. Girls today who are 14 look 18 and they can be like, "Yeah do me! I'm 17," and you're like, "Okay," and then she's like, "Oh yeah, I'm only 14," then you go to jail.

[1338 h4x0r]

Um...no...not often

And age can be guessed at by maturity. 18 year olds are generally very immature, 14 year olds even more so

[Volumnius Flush]

Um...no...not often

And age can be guessed at by maturity. 18 year olds are generally very immature, 14 year olds even more so

But what if she is so mature at 14, she seems 18? It happens...

[1338 h4x0r]

:lol:

No girl intelligent enough to be so mature at 14 would lie and whore herself out like that anyway.

[Volumnius Flush]

:lol:

No girl intelligent enough to be so mature at 14 would whore herself out anyway.

You have a point there. Unless she just really likes a big one.

[Against Miik!]

If there was any question in my mind as to whether a girl was 18 or not, I would honestly ask to see her ID. Better an awkward situation than a few years in prison.

[1338 h4x0r]

Of course, you could date mature women your own age as well.

[Volumnius Flush]

Of course, you could date mature women your own age as well.

But if you're 22 and only look 17, I mean what do you do?

[Against Miik!]

Yes. I'm just saying. For me, dating an 18 year old would be THAT weird, especially if she was mature for her age.

I probably wouldn't though.

Flush you're 22? You do look 17. That sucks. Glue pubes to your face.

[1338 h4x0r]

But if you're 22 and only look 17, I mean what do you do?

Make up for it with mature behavior (i.e., don't make a lot of dumb assertions with little or no proof)

[Volumnius Flush]

Yes. I'm just saying. For me, dating an 18 year old would be THAT weird, especially if she was mature for her age.

I probably wouldn't though.

Flush you're 22? You do look 17. That sucks. Glue pubes to your face.

I'll be 20 in August! What are you planning on getting me? :)

[Against Miik!]

I'll be 20 in August! What are you planning on getting me? :)

A copy of To Kill a Mockingbird on DVD

[Volumnius Flush]

A copy of To Kill a Mockingbird on DVD

Ooh nice! Great movie, and good book too though I only read parts of it. Somehow I didn't even really read the book but I still passed all the tests. Those high school tests were so easy. If you knew any logic whatsoever you could bs your way through all the answers.

[Against Miik!]

Yes the American education system is quite the joke

[Volumnius Flush]

Yes the American education system is quite the joke

Last I checked we were ranked 17th in math and science behind Finland, Poland, Japan... Basically second-class nations! We are failing and in 20 years there will be some terrific effects.

[Against Miik!]

Those aren't second class nations, not at all. I've been to Poland and Finland and they are actually quite nice.

We should be doing better though, yes, as the supposed leaders of the free world.

[1338 h4x0r]

Last I checked we were ranked 17th in math and science behind Finland, Poland, Japan... Basically second-class nations! We are failing and in 20 years there will be some terrific effects.

One of the reasons we're behind is because some people want to drag Jay-zus into the science classroom.

LOL @ how you tagged those countries 'second-class' when a) you just showed it isn't true and b) you included Japan

[Against Miik!]

I have a Japanese roommate. He didnt speak much english at first but 9 weeks later hes gotten pretty good.

He brought these two banging asian chicks over earlier.

[Volumnius Flush]

Those aren't second class nations, not at all. I've been to Poland and Finland and they are actually quite nice.


I meant we are behind second-class nations. I just worded it kind of strange.

One of the reasons we're behind is because some people want to drag Jay-zus into the science classroom.

LOL @ how you tagged those countries 'second-class' when a) you just showed it isn't true and b) you included Japan

Jesus has no place in science class. It is incompetent educators at every level minus college.

[1338 h4x0r]

So what about evolution

[MattSharpIsCool]

And......thread is officially de-railed

[Volumnius Flush]

He brought these two banging asian chicks over earlier.

What? They were banging? How do two girls...?

So what about evolution

It should be taught in the classroom. It is on the forefront of original science.

[Against Miik!]

It lasted for almost a page so thats not bad

[Iscariot]

busting people for viewing child pornography is useless if they aren't actual sex offenders

would the community rather that someone jack off to child porn or that they go out and actually molest children

the effort should go into stopping known offenders

[Volumnius Flush]

And......thread is officially de-railed

How did it happen? :(

We were just talking and then it ran off the tracks...

[Berner]

It should be taught in the classroom. It is on the forefront of original science.Wait a minute...aren't you some hardcore christian or something?

[JohnXDoe]

busting people for viewing child pornography is useless if they aren't actual sex offenders

would the community rather that someone jack off to child porn or that they go out and actually molest children

the effort should go into stopping known offenders
i agree with this. here in America its reached almost hysterical proportions.

and in Aussieland? "2800 ip addresses." peoples privacy and lives invaded. i hope they do a little investigating before they go knocking on doors and seizing peoples property and possibly smearing their good name because they viewed a few pics

here in America if you even look at one pic (quite seriously) the state considers CP you can go to prison. it doesn't even have to be on your computer, it just has to show it was once viewed from somewhere on your computer. by someone. its stupid

and now omg you know what else was ruled CP by the court? those teen model sites that used to be out. the teen model becky or salina or w/e the fuk. basically 14, 15, and 16 year old girls posed in bathing suits and underwear. this is now equal under the law to babies being raped even though parental consent is given and no nudity or sex is involved. just what some say are "provocative" poses which whip perverts into a frenzy, i guess.

what?

and the kids being taken away in Texas? all of a sudden every "child" was at risk of maybe having...omg SEX. at 16 or 17 years old. gimme a break

bust the people trading actively and spreading it. bust the people who produce it for sure. bust the ones who knowingly purchase and collect it. stay the hell out of everyone else's business.

2800 ip's, pfft. and a DANGEROUS PREDATOR behind each one lol. just waiting to rape a baby...

[Volumnius Flush]

Wait a minute...aren't you some hardcore christian or something?

If it is the best that science has to offer our youth, I believe science should at least have a forum to voice its findings. But I also believe ID should be taught. :p

[1338 h4x0r]

Yeah, well, that partly explains why we trail in science

[Volumnius Flush]

Yeah, well, that partly explains why we trail in science

We trail in all fields due to the incompetency of instructors and a general lack of a collective yen for knowledge.

[1338 h4x0r]

Incompetency? Maybe. Lack of yen for knowledge? Yes.

This is why I strongly want to move to country with a superior culture. Any suggestions? I was thinking Taiwan.

[Meatplow]

i agree with this. here in America its reached almost hysterical proportions.

and in Aussieland? "2800 ip addresses." peoples privacy and lives invaded. i hope they do a little investigating before they go knocking on doors and seizing peoples property and possibly smearing their good name because they viewed a few pics

here in America if you even look at one pic (quite seriously) the state considers CP you can go to prison. it doesn't even have to be on your computer, it just has to show it was once viewed from somewhere on your computer. by someone. its stupid

and now omg you know what else was ruled CP by the court? those teen model sites that used to be out. the teen model becky or salina or w/e the fuk. basically 14, 15, and 16 year old girls posed in bathing suits and underwear. this is now equal under the law to babies being raped even though parental consent is given and no nudity or sex is involved. just what some say are "provocative" poses which whip perverts into a frenzy, i guess.

what?

and the kids being taken away in Texas? all of a sudden every "child" was at risk of maybe having...omg SEX. at 16 or 17 years old. gimme a break

bust the people trading actively and spreading it. bust the people who produce it for sure. bust the ones who knowingly purchase and collect it. stay the hell out of everyone else's business.

2800 ip's, pfft. and a DANGEROUS PREDATOR behind each one lol. just waiting to rape a baby...

I agree very strongly with this post. There is little I could add or elaborate on.

[Volumnius Flush]

bust the people trading actively and spreading it. bust the people who produce it for sure. bust the ones who knowingly purchase and collect it. stay the hell out of everyone else's business.


But I think they should place more emphasis on the ones trading and collecting and distributing these images rather than prosecute someone who just stumbled on to it

Notice how John practically ripped off my post? He totally took my whole 'trading, collecting, and distributing' line. :lol:

[JohnXDoe]

haha even funnier because i didn't read your post :p

good post, though

great minds think alike, i guess

in which case both of us might be in serious doo doo :(

[Volumnius Flush]

haha even funnier because i didn't read your post :p

good post, though

great minds think alike, i guess

in which case both of us might be in serious doo doo :(

Why would great minds be in doo doo?

[JohnXDoe]

because they belong to the likes of us two :D

[Volumnius Flush]

because they belong to the likes of us two :D

What are you trying to say? Too smart for our own good?

[Charlie Daniels]

Hmm well I think these people really had it coming. Albeit, I'm somewhat surprised about the claim that they've managed to trace the users for EVERY one of the 1500 australian IP addresses.

i personally think this is great, they've sent a clear message that now the AFP are able to police the internet. I think this will scare a lot of people who didn't get caught out of viewing it.

[JohnXDoe]

yes, but you know, should simply "viewing" something, even at a glance or a click, be such a horrid crime that a person is labeled a "sex offender"

in America our email attachments are already scanned for CP when we download an attachment. its used in conjunction with the virus scanners. every piece of CP images found on the internet are put into a database, email attachments are then by use of sophisticated technology "scanned" for characteristics that match ANY CP image in the database. if you receive an attachment and open it, even if the sender is unknown, your ISP is alerted and they in turn alert the authorities

isn't this enough? i heard they may even start this with regular downloading.

i download some pr0n (rapidshare account ftw) i would hate to think one day i download something that is said to be legal but turns out not to be and the cops come to my door. i mean what should i do? i would be scared to report a download or a site to authorities because omg i may have seen some CP in the process. many questions would be asked of me, prolly a full investigation.

i'm not with that. some people are on a crusade to "protect the children." l am not. i want MY freedoms protected

enough is enough. and all the "anti pr0n" people jump on the CP bandwagon and are now trying to extend the restrictions to regular pr0n, regulate the internet, etc...

viewing a photo never hurt anyone. and most of the CP on the internet came from many years (decades, even) ago when laws didn't exist against it. so more recent victims are prolly fewer and further between.

its disgusting and vile, yes. but somehow reason has to intercede. i don't want the "sex police" peeking into my private habits under the guise of "protecting children."

also, until the law makes a distinction between a person looking at a 15 or 16 year old girl posed "provocatively" in a bikini and a photo of someone raping a baby, it is sort of a bit much

[Volumnius Flush]

yes, but you know, should simply "viewing" something, even at a glance or a click, be such a horrid crime that a person is labeled a "sex offender"

in America our email attachments are already scanned for CP when we download an attachment. its used in conjunction with the virus scanners. every piece of CP images found on the internet are put into a database, email attachments are then by use of sophisticated technology "scanned" for characteristics that match ANY CP image in the database. if you receive an attachment and open it, even if the sender is unknown, your ISP is alerted and they in turn alert the authorities

isn't this enough? i heard they may even start this with regular downloading.

i download some pr0n (rapidshare account ftw) i would hate to think one day i download something that is said to be legal but turns out not to be and the cops come to my door. i mean what should i do? i would be scared to report a download or a site to authorities because omg i may have seen some CP in the process. many questions would be asked of me, prolly a full investigation.

i'm not with that. some people are on a crusade to "protect the children." l am not. i want MY freedoms protected

enough is enough. and all the "anti pr0n" people jump on the CP bandwagon and are now trying to extend the restrictions to regular pr0n, regulate the internet, etc...

viewing a photo never hurt anyone. and most of the CP on the internet came from many years (decades, even) ago when laws didn't exist against it. so more recent victims are prolly fewer and further between.

its disgusting and vile, yes. but somehow reason has to intercede. i don't want the "sex police" peeking into my private habits under the guise of "protecting children."

also, until the law makes a distinction between a person looking at a 15 or 16 year old girl posed "provocatively" in a bikini and a photo of someone raping a baby, it is sort of a bit much

There is a lot to be said for the guy that just happens to "stumble" onto it. Viewing a picture never hurt anyone and why one image results in ten years prison time? I will never know. Rapists are getting less time. Burglars are getting less time. Attempted murderers and murderers themselves are getting less time. The government for one reason or another has chosen to make an example of these people and tie social ostracism into the matter by making these people register as "sex offenders" including being listed in online databases including their addresses and personal information.

But are these people a threat?

Most of them want to go on with their lives and want to forget about the past, the past the authorities think should be plastered up like a billboard on every internet database.

Why don't they make a consequent database for all murderers, people who have committed actual crimes against humanity and inform the people of their whereabouts so they won't be in that area with a known murderer? But, no. It's only with child sex offenders and a picture simply does not warrant a decade behind bars.

Why don't they focus their time and effort, they have the technology, on prosecuting those actively collecting, trading, distributing, and selling these photographs instead of going after those who unknowingly and unsuspectingly stumbled onto it, and didn't even save it onto his computer?

[BridgeToSolace]

Why don't they focus their time and effort, they have the technology, on prosecuting those actively collecting, trading, distributing, and selling these photographs instead of going after those who unknowingly and unsuspectingly stumbled onto it, and didn't even save it onto his computer?

"Stumbling onto" child poor is supposition beyond the op. I honestly doubt that most people taken down in the sting just happened to look at the child animal photographs long enough to realize what it was and then closed the window.

At the same time, I also doubt that most of the people were actually threats. There's a big leap from being attracted to little girls to actually raping one. I don't think that the kids should have been taking away.

I, for example, am not afraid that my dad will molest my sister despite the fact that my dad is attracted to girls in their mid twenties.