OFFICIAL

Dear Sean

YOUR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

I refer to your request dated 16 January 2025, seeking access to documents
under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the Act) as follows:

“1. Initial communication from international law enforcement agencies to
the AFP relating to a joint operation named "Cookie Monster" that the AFP
took part in during 2023 to seized the domain or website associated with
the black market site "Genesis'.

2. Any documentation pertaining to the design of the websites "Seizure
image" or the AFP logo placement on the image.

3. Internal communications or memorandums pertaining to the immediate
aftermath of the websites seizure, limited to a 7 day search period from
intial take down.

4. Any screenshots or images of the genesis UI, homepage, user
marketplace, landing page, or other publicly facing page prior to the
application of the takedown banner.

5. Any combination of HTML/CSS or other website data that was used to
display the website itself (Ie: the files used to make the sites design)”

Timeframe

Your request was received by the AFP on 16 January 2025, and the 30 day
statutory period for processing your request commenced from that date. The
due date for your request is 17 February 2025.

Request for extension of time under s15AA

Upon consideration of your request, the AFP is of the view that your
request will take longer than 30 days to process.  The delay is
regrettable, however, due to a significant increase in the volume of
applications at this time and the absence of key personnel to assist with
the processing of requests for information, the AFP will be unable to
finalise this matter within the 30 day time frame.  Accordingly, it will
not be possible to advise you of a decision by 17 February 2025.

Accordingly, pursuant to section 15AA of the Act, I seek your agreement to
extend the period to notify you of a decision by 30 days taking the due
date of a decision to 19 March 2025.

I would be grateful if you would advise this office in writing of your
agreement to the proposed extension of time by 28 January 2025.

Information irrelevant to the scope of your request

The AFP, in its management of FOI requests, excludes the following
information on the basis that is irrelevant to the scope of a request:

o Duplicate documents, including duplicate emails (the AFP will only
provide emails where they form a final email chain and the
authors/recipients are contained within the final email); and
o Information that is publicly available, for example, newspaper
articles, online publications including information available on the
AFP Information Publication Scheme and the AFP disclosure log.

Please advise this office whether you also consent to exclude the
following information:

o Names of AFP members, other than the Senior Executive; and
o Direct telephone numbers, middle names of AFP members, signatures and
mobile telephone numbers of AFP members.

Information Publication Scheme

Please be advised that effective 1 May 2011 and in accordance with section
8(2) of the Act, an agency is required to publish information on the AFP
website following the notification of a decision in respect of a freedom
of information request. Details of the decision will be published in a
Disclosure Log which can be found at
[1]https://www.afp.gov.au/about-us/informat....

The requirement to publish information released under FOI reinforces the
objectives of the FOI Act to promote a pro-disclosure culture across
government, and to increase recognition that information held by
government is a national resource. Exceptions to the requirement to
publish information would apply to personal information and information
concerning the business affairs of a person if it was considered
‘unreasonable’ to do so. 

If however, after noting the above, you wish to raise any concerns about
the publication of information concerning your request prior to the
notification of a decision, please advise the AFP in writing before 17
February 2025.

If you have any queries in relation to this matter, please do not hesitate
to contact our team at [2][AFP request email].

Yours sincerely,

AFP27037
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER - COMMERCIAL, GOVERNANCE & INFORMATION
AFP LEGAL – CORPORATE | CHIEF COUNSEL PORTFOLIO
[3]Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police acknowledges the Traditional Owners and
Custodians of Country
throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and
community. We pay
our respects to First Nations people, culture and Elders past, present and
emerging.

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.afp.gov.au/about-us/informat...
2. mailto:[AFP request email]
3. http://www.afp.gov.au/

OFFICIAL
Dear Sean

Thank you for your email.

After applying the 30-day extension of time under section 15AA, your request is now due 17 March 2025.

Kind regards

AFP27037
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER - COMMERCIAL, GOVERNANCE & INFORMATION
AFP LEGAL – CORPORATE | CHIEF COUNSEL PORTFOLIO

The Australian Federal Police acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country
throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay
our respects to First Nations people, culture and Elders past, present and emerging.

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