Social media companies 'pouring accelerant on the flames' of misinformation and extremism, top cop warns

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Social media companies are slammed by Australia's top police officer for 'pouring accelerant on the flames' of misinformation and extremism on their platforms, while the boss of ASIO raises concerns encrypted chat services are a 'safe room for terrorists and spies'.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and ASIO boss Mike Burgess will express their concerns around social media in an address to the National Press Club.

He'll use the address to say some Australians are "being bewitched online by a cauldron of extremist poison on the open and dark web". "We used to warn our children about stranger danger, but now we need to teach our kids about the digital-world deceivers," he'll say. "ASIO's ability to investigate is seriously compromised. Obviously, we and our partners will do everything we can to prevent terrorism or sabotage, so we are expending significant resources to monitor the Australians involved," he will say.Commissioner Kershaw will urge social media companies and other electronic service providers to not transition to end-to-end encryption "until they can ensure their technology protects against online crime rather than enabling it".

"If the threat, evidence, safeguards and oversight are strong enough for us to obtain a warrant, then they should be strong enough for the companies to help us give effect to that warrant. To make encryption accountable." Mr Burgess will also argue the internet is already "the world's most potent incubator of extremism" and will say artificial intelligence is "likely to make radicalisation easier and faster".

 

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