Rates of youth radicalisation are rising, and here's what to look out for

A new report by the Five Eyes intelligence community asks parents, teachers and others working with teenagers to pay attention to the signs of online radicalisation.

- Greg Barton

When the police and intelligence agencies of the five nations of the Five Eyes intelligence community come together and release a report, it's a significant event.

The report, released on Dec 6, is the first of its kind. It's remarkable that it focuses on youth radicalisation, giving case studies of teenagers being radicalised through involvement in online platforms.

Every single one of the counter-terrorism cases in Australia in 2024 has involved minors or very young adults, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation says about 20 per cent of its priority counter-terrorism cases involve minors.

Over the past four years, the AFP and its police partners have conducted 35 counter-terrorism investigations involving minors, with the youngest child being just 12. Most have resulted in charges being laid. Two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, have been convicted.

Tragically, by the time a police investigation commences, it's often difficult to avoid life-changing prosecution and legal action.

So this report, involving the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, is a wake-up call. It asks for parents, teachers and others working with teenagers to pay attention to the signs of online radicalisation.

It's a pity, to say the least, that the report doesn't do a better job of spelling out these early warning signs (broken links and clumsy acronyms don't help). But the intent is sincere and the need urgent.

HOW DOES AUSTRALIA DEAL WITH THIS?