Intelligence agencies say there is a "realistic possibility" the Covid-19 pandemic will accelerate online radicalisation over the next year and "have a detrimental effect on the broader threat environment in the medium- to long-term". "Increased consumption of this material could lead to a broader acceptance of online extremist content and targeting of vulnerable groups over the next 12 months, and beyond." Al Gillespie, a law professor at Waikato University, said he wasn't surprised that security agencies had found the Covid-19 pandemic was responsible for an uptick in extremist activity or sentiment. At any one stage in the 12-month period, between 30 and 50 people were being actively investigated, the SIS report stated. The SIS report also found that the nature of threats from foreign interference had changed in light of the pandemic.

Source: Stuff April 01, 2021 01:52 UTC