Australia at 'crossroads' as police warn of 'tsunami' of radicalisation

Australia at a crossroads as police warn of 'tsunami' of radicalisation among young people.

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Police have warned of a 'tsunami' of radicalisation among young Australians, with children as young as 11 being targeted online. Acting Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner Sandra Booth told a parliamentary inquiry that the radicalisation of young people is happening at an unprecedented speed, with some cases taking as little as days to develop.

Booth attributed the rapid escalation to artificial intelligence, a growing grievance generation, and the sophistication of online networks. She warned that vulnerable children are being hunted online by 'sadistic' predators who often turn 'desperate victims into perpetrators'.

Since 2020, counter-terrorism authorities have targeted 65 children aged between 12 and 17, with 35 of those investigations resulting in charges. The AFP is considering proposing an expansion of their powers to allow officers to more actively disrupt harmful online chat groups.

The Australian federal police are deeply concerned that AI is accelerating and lowering the skills required to actively manipulate and radicalise victims online. Without serious intervention, Australia's mental health, education, and judicial systems could be overwhelmed by people committing serious criminal offences.

The country has experienced an increase in the number of threats being made against politicians, with one example being a 13-year-old boy who allegedly possessed violent extremist material and planned a school shooting. The Asio deputy director general for intelligence service delivery, Claire McGuinness, said the spy agency is encountering more children, including 12-year-olds, who are being radicalised online.