Australia’s High Court upheld the use of AN0M sting evidence, rejecting claims it was unlawfully obtained.

Australia’s High Court has rejected a major legal challenge to evidence from the AN0M app sting operation, upholding the admissibility of data collected during Operation Ironside. The joint Australian Federal Police and FBI effort secretly monitored encrypted devices given to suspected criminals, leading to 392 charges in Australia, over 2,300 offenses, more than 6.6 tonnes of drugs, and $55.6 million in cash seized. Two accused individuals argued the evidence was unlawfully obtained and that a 2024 federal law validating its use was unconstitutional, but the court ruled the law only changed how courts assess admissibility, not the facts, preserving judicial discretion. The decision clears the way for continued use of the evidence in prosecutions.