Police are concerned that improved internet access thanks to the National Broadband Network will lead to a dramatic increase in people sharing images of child pornography.

Specifically, Northern Territory Police say that indigenous communities currently under a commonwealth intervention that prevents pornography will suddenly find themselves with access to the vast amounts already available on the internet.

NT Police concerns go further; they believe some communities will use the new level of communicative ability to transmit illegal pornography over longer distances, currently limited to the Bluetooth range of devices.

Authorities in the Northern Territory have spoken out to a joint parliamentary inquiry into the issue of ‘sexting’ – the transmission of sexual images using mobile phones and other electronic devices by minors.

As a result of the inquiry so far, The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy says it will continue working with the Attorney-General's Department to develop the new Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN), which will refer reports of cybercrime to law enforcement and government agencies. When ACORN is launched next year it will provide an outlet to report sexting and cyber-bullying incidents online.