• Australian case comes amid concern over child abuse after release of millions of files related to late convicted sex offender Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial

ISTANBUL

Australian police on Thursday charged a man, who "actively targeted" hundreds of children in Australia and 15 other countries, amid the latest release of files by US authorities related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The 27-year-old Australian, Ethan Burns-Dederer, in custody since February 2025, has been charged with hundreds of child-abuse- related offenses against 459 victims, said the Queensland police.

The Australian case comes amid concerns over child abuse after the release of millions of files related to Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial.

The files have exposed "who is who" globally for their links and connections to the sexual offender.

Police in Australia charged the accused with 596 offenses after finding 23,000 more videos and images of the alleged abuses on his electronic devices.

The statement by 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.”

Australian Crime Command official Denzil Clark said: “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."

“This is extremely concerning and disturbing offending. 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.

He also said 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.

A total of 360 of the victims have so far been identified, and investigations are ongoing, he added.

Australia, last year, passed legislation prohibiting access to social media platforms for users under 16, which entered into force on Dec. 10.