The 20-year-old is also accused of using the dark web to access child abuse material at a Katherine property, about 300km southeast of Darwin, the Australian Federal Police say.

Police say the man used a virtual private network application, or VPN, to connect to the dark web before transferring the material to his mobile telephones.

Officers allegedly found child abuse material stored on two phones and a laptop computer belonging to the man.

"Each image and video shows a child having their innocence stolen and anyone who accesses this horrific content is complicit in the abuse," Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said.

"Would-be offenders should be warned that encrypted applications will not enable them to stay anonymous."

Investigators drove six hours to arrest the man at his rural home.

He was charged with accessing child abuse material through a carriage service and possession or control of child abuse material accessed through a carriage service.

The arrest comes after the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children contacted the AFP about a person transmitting child abuse material via a social media application.

The offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

The man is expected to appear in the Katherine Local Court on Friday.

Australian Associated Press