Media Release: 17-year-old suspected member of ‘Anonymous’ charged with unauthorised access to computer data
Release Date: Friday, April 05 2013, 01:38 PM
A 17-year-old youth appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court on Friday (5 April 2013) to face charges relating to unauthorised access to computer data.
The juvenile is suspected to be a member of the online issue motivated group “Anonymous” and allegedly committed serious offences on their behalf.
Commander Glen McEwen, Manager Cybercrime Operations, said the AFP takes any computer intrusion offences very seriously and remains committed to investigating offences that occur in cyberspace.
“Protesting through computer intrusions and website defacements is not an appropriate method to raise public awareness about any issue,” Commander McEwen said.
“The AFP investigates various types of cybercrime and will continue to take a strong stance against these perpetrators.”
The AFP executed a search warrant at the youth’s premises in Glenmore Park, NSW in November 2012.
The youth was subsequently charged with the following offences:
- Six counts of unauthorised modification of data to cause impairment, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment;
- One count of unauthorised access with intent to commit a serious offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment;
- One count of possession of data with intent to commit a computer offence, which carries a maximum penalty of 3 years imprisonment; and
- Twelve counts of unauthorised access to restricted data, which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment.
The youth is scheduled to appear again in the Parramatta Children’s Court on 17 May 2013.
As this matter now before the court it is not appropriate for the AFP to comment further.
