Police, spy agencies could access encrypted messages

Australians' encrypted messages could be passed on to police and spy agencies under a parliamentary recommendation to tackle right-wing extremism.

The spread of online violent extremism is a growing concern, with the international intelligence alliance of Five Eyes countries - including Australia, the UK, the US, Canada and New Zealand - calling for a whole-of-society approach.

A Senate report on right-wing movements has called on the government to introduce laws empowering authorities to access encrypted communications if there is a "well-founded" threat to national security and a warrant has been issued.

This is because encrypted platforms can offer online anonymity, allowing extremists to conceal their identities and hide their communications.

However, providing access to encrypted messages could undermine national security, weaken protections and introduce vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign agents, the Greens argue.

"Even small intrusions into encryption by government agencies could severely undermine individuals' cybersecurity, as well as their human rights," the minor party wrote in additional comments.

The report found extremist right-wing ideologies are becoming increasingly mainstream and can pose a threat to Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians, culturally diverse communities, religious groups, women and LGBTQI people.

Some young Australians have advocated for race wars and planned school shootings after being radicalised online, according to a joint report from the Five Eyes nations.

A 16-year-old investigated by Australia's Joint Counter-Terrorism Team had urged members of their extremist online community to prepare for a war to "defend the white race".

They also used their forum to discuss carrying out a mass killing offshore and live-streaming a shooting on Facebook and request bomb-making help.

The team also helped arrest a 14-year-old who adhered to nationalist and racist violent extremist ideology, expressed strong admiration for terrorists and posted related content on Snapchat before planning a school shooting.

Every Australian terrorist attack, disruption and suspected terrorist incident in 2024 was perpetrated by a young person, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess said.

One in five priority counter-terrorism cases managed by ASIO involve young people.

"As a parent, the numbers are shocking; as an intelligence officer, the numbers are sobering," he said.

Extremists are using seemingly innocuous online spaces including gaming platforms like Roblox and Discord, or social media sites to approach young people before pushing them down a pipeline of violence.

Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to online radicalisation, especially those who are socially isolated as the online world can be their key source of community.

The 16-year-old, for example, had very few real-world relationships and did not participate in any extra-curricular activities.

The internet also allows minors to interact with adults and others their age to share extremist content and normalise violent behaviour.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a looming ban on under-16s using social media would help to lessen the threat of young people being radicalised.

"The problem with radicalisation online is often it can't be seen by definition. It can happen in privacy with someone on a computer screen," he told reporters in Perth on Friday.

The Senate report also recommended the government conduct more research, establish a national framework to deter young people from radicalisation and adopt a nationally consistent definition of a hate crime.