SA crackdown on child sex web operators

People who run child sex websites will face up to 10 years jail under proposed new laws in South Australia.

The legislation, introduced on Tuesday, makes it an offence to solely administer or operate a child sex site even without being in possession of explicit material, Attorney-General John Rau says.

"These changes will ensure that people who seek to exploit or abuse children for the sexual gratification of others are held to account for their appalling actions," Mr Rau said.

The new laws are needed to combat technological advances with police increasingly unable to gain access to websites and files due to sophisticated encryption technology.

The cyber obstruction provision of the legislation means people who fail to provide access to encrypted files, face up to five years in jail, Mr Rau said.