Australian man charged with 596 child abuse offenses, accused of grooming 459 victims globally

Australian authorities have charged a 27-year-old man with 596 child abuse offenses after identifying 459 victims across 16 countries, in one of the nation’s largest-ever online child exploitation cases. Ethan Burns-Dederer, who has been in custody since February 2025, allegedly groomed, coerced, and threatened children aged 7 to 15 on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025.

Scale of the Abuse and Investigation

Queensland police reported finding over 23,000 additional videos and images of abuse on the suspect’s electronic devices, complicating the identification process. “Due to the volume of images and videos of children on the alleged offender’s devices, the process of identification took time, skill and commitment,” said Australian Crime Command official Denzil Clark. So far, 360 victims have been formally identified, with investigations continuing.

Charges and Modus Operandi

The charges include 244 counts of producing child abuse material, 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure children under 16, and 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child via a carriage service. Police allege the accused created multiple fake online profiles—both male and female—to groom and threaten young people into sending sexually explicit content.

Context and Prevention Measures

The case emerges amid heightened global attention on child exploitation following the release of millions of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Australia recently enacted legislation banning social media access for users under 16, which took effect on December 10, as part of efforts to enhance online safety for minors.