Child protection campaigners Bravehearts say the rights of victims must be protected in a plan to give federal law enforcement agencies legal protections to possess and share child sexual abuse material to target criminals online .

New laws being considered by parliament will ensure Australian federal police and officers from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission are protected from criminal and civil responsibility to do their work fighting child abuse syndicates, often operating in dark corners of the internet.

Bravehearts supports the plan, arguing law enforcement needs to act decisively to protect children and dismantle harmful networks.

Carol Ronken, the organisation’s head of research, said controlled and legally sanctioned use of child abuse material was a critical t

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