Australia has taken action against the extreme right-wing online network “Terrorgram” by imposing sanctions in an effort to combat antisemitism and online extremism. Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that engaging with “Terrorgram” would now be a criminal offense, with offenders facing up to 10 years in jail and heavy fines. This marks the first time the Australian government has imposed counterterrorism financing sanctions on an online entity. Similar moves have been made by Britain and the United States in response to the group’s promotion of white supremacy and racially-motivated violence.
In addition to targeting “Terrorgram,” Australia has also re-listed and sanctioned other right-wing groups like the National Socialist Order, the Russian Imperial Movement, Sonnenkrieg Division, and The Base for counterterrorism financing. The country has witnessed an increase in antisemitic attacks following the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, which has sparked fear among the Jewish community in Australia. The government’s actions aim to prevent children from getting involved in far-right extremism and to address the growing threat of online radicalization.
The crackdown on “Terrorgram” comes after the United States and Britain took similar steps against the group, with the U.S. designating it as promoting violent white supremacy and Britain making it a criminal offense to belong to or promote the group. Australian authorities recently arrested members of a neo-Nazi group and charged a man for displaying a Nazi symbol in Adelaide. Overall, these sanctions reflect the global effort to combat online extremism and hate speech that threaten the safety and security of communities worldwide.
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