Canberra: Australia has imposed sanctions on the extreme right-wing online network Terrorgram as part of its broader efforts to combat rising antisemitism and online extremism. The move follows similar actions taken by the United States and Britain.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that engaging with Terrorgram is now a criminal offense in Australia, a step aimed at preventing children and young people from being drawn into far-right extremist ideologies.
“Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially motivated violence,” Wong said in a statement. “It is the first time any Australian government has imposed counterterrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online.”
Under the new sanctions, offenders could face up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines. Wong also confirmed the renewal of sanctions on four other right-wing extremist groups: the National Socialist Order, the Russian Imperial Movement, Sonnenkrieg Division, and The Base.
In January, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration designated Terrorgram as a promoter of violent white supremacy. In April, Britain made it a criminal offense to belong to or advocate for the group.
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Telegram, the social media platform where Terrorgram primarily operates, responded by stating that it does not allow calls to violence.
“Moderators removed several channels that used variations of the ‘Terrorgram’ name when they were discovered years ago. Similar content is banned whenever it appears,” Telegram said in a statement.
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Australia has witnessed a surge in attacks on synagogues, buildings, and vehicles since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, raising concerns among the country’s Jewish community, which numbers nearly 115,000.
Authorities have intensified efforts to crack down on far-right activity. Last week, police in Adelaide arrested members of a neo-Nazi group on Australia’s National Day, charging one individual for displaying a Nazi symbol.
