AFP warns Australia of ‘tsunami of youth crime’ and radicalisation accelerated by AI

The Australian federal police (AFP) has warned the nation of a "tsunami" of youth crime and rapid radicalisation, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a parliamentary inquiry. Acting deputy commissioner Sandra Booth stated that traditional radicalisation, which took years or months, can now occur within days due to AI's role in manipulating and online networks. She expressed deep concern that AI is lowering the skill threshold for online radicalisation and causing serious harm.

Children as young as 12 have been subject to federal police operations since 2020, with 65 cases involving individuals under 13. Thirty-five were charged with terrorism-related offences. Claire McGuinness, Asio deputy director general for intelligence service delivery, noted that the spy agency has encountered more children, including 12-year-olds, compared to 20 years ago when the majority were in their early 20s.

The inquiry revealed that an investigation found a 13-year-old boy with violent extremist material, using the social media platform Discord. Police found a notebook with plans for a school shooting during his home raid. The intelligence and security committee chair, Senator Raff Ciccone, invited those affected by radicalisation to come forward, recognising the difficulty of doing so.

Home affairs department counter-terrorism coordinator Brendan Dowling warned that the nation is identifying individuals too late, as the threat from terrorism and violent extremism has changed and is now more urgent and challenging. A final report from the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security will be released in March next year.