Federal police powers to tackle dark web

The Australian Federal Police and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission would also be allowed to hack into computer networks and modify or delete harmful content including child exploitation material.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton introduced the proposed surveillance powers to federal parliament on Thursday.

Mr Dutton said the legislation would allow the law enforcement agencies to shine a light into the darkest corners of the internet and hold those hiding there to account.

"We are determined to provide our agencies with all reasonable powers necessary to protect the lives of children and to protect the Australian public from criminals acting anonymously online," he told AAP.

"These key new powers are critical in enabling law enforcement to tackle the fundamental shift in how serious criminality is occurring online."

Mr Dutton described the dark web as a lawless place and the sewer of the internet.

He said without enhancing the agencies' powers, they would be left with outdated methods of attacking pockets of online crime that were on the rise.

"The technology has gotten ahead of us," Mr Dutton said.

The minister recently established an Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, bringing together the AFP and other agencies to target online child abuse.

In the past 12 months, the centre has intercepted and examined more than 250,000 child abuse material files.

Its victim identification team has received 44 referrals, comprising more than 4000 images and 2200 videos.

Since July 2018, there have been 302 arrests made with more than 2300 charges laid and 229 children removed from harm, both in Australia and overseas.

The centre identified a 163 per cent increase in child abuse material downloaded on the dark web between April to June compared to the same period last year.

Australian Associated Press