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The Australian government on Monday imposed sanctions on ‘Terrorgram,’ an online network known for promoting white supremacy and racially motivated violence on Telegram. This decision by the Australian government is akin to similar actions taken earlier by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions, emphasising that they would make it a criminal offence to engage with the network. This step is expected to serve as a deterrent against the radicalisation of young individuals and disrupt the spread of extremist ideology.
Under the new regulations in Australia, individuals found engaging with ‘Terrorgram’ could face severe legal consequences, including up to 10 years in prison and hefty fines.
“Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially motivated violence,” Wong stated. “It is the first time any Australian government has imposed counterterrorism financing sanctions on an entity based entirely online.”

In addition to targeting Terrorgram, Australia has renewed sanctions on four existing right-wing extremist groups: the National Socialist Order, the Russian Imperial Movement, the Sonnenkrieg Division, and The Base. These groups have been identified as threats due to their extremist ideologies and history of violent activities.
The sanctions follow the U.S. government’s designation of Terrorgram as a violent extremist entity in January, citing its use of the encrypted social media platform Telegram to spread white supremacist propaganda. The U.K. followed suit in April, criminalising membership or promotion of the network.
Telegram defended its moderation policies in response to the designation. A spokesperson for the platform stated that “Moderators removed several channels that used variations of the ‘Terrorgram’ name when they were discovered years ago. Similar content is banned whenever it appears.”
Despite these claims, authorities argue that extremist content continues to proliferate on encrypted platforms, posing challenges for law enforcement.
As Reuters notes, Australia’s crackdown comes amid a surge in antisemitic incidents following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. Synagogues, vehicles, and buildings have been vandalised, heightening security concerns for the nation’s Jewish community.
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