A Canberra man accused of holding some 4500 child pornography files on his computer initially told police hackers could have targeted him because he was a Donald Trump supporter, according to court documents.
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Mackenzie William Sutton, 36, was arrested at his home on Friday after police raided the property and seized several electronic devices.
He was charged with using a carriage service for child pornography material and possessing child pornography.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Mike Harris told the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday morning that the approximately 4500 files suspected to be child pornography had been downloaded in their entirety in November.
The prosecution statement of facts tendered to the court said Sutton had denied all knowledge of the files and suggested a "hacker" may have targeted him because of his right-wing ideologies and support for Mr Trump.
The defendant applied for bail, suggesting a ban on internet use and devices, but the prosecution said there was too great a risk of him deleting evidence using 'dark net' tools.
Detective Senior Constable Harris said the Tor browser on his computer indicated a sophisticated knowledge of the unsearchable dark net.
"It would be nearly impossible to prevent someone from accessing the internet in this day and age," he said.
Magistrate Karen Fryar said she was not satisfied there were enough safeguards to prevent Sutton from accessing the internet, and said there was a public safety risk in releasing the defendant on bail.
She refused bail and remanded Sutton in custody until his next appearance later this month.
No pleas have been entered for either charge
