The Australian government has imposed counter-terrorism sanctions on an online white supremacist network.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong announced the sanctions for “Terrorgram” on Monday as part of the government’s “work to combat antisemitism and keep Australians safe.”
Under the sanctions, it is now a criminal offense to use or deal with the network’s assets, or make assets available to it.
Anyone found guilty of breaching the sanctions faces heavy fines and up to 10 years imprisonment.
Wong said in a statement that it marks the first time that any Australian government has imposed counter-terrorism sanctions on any entity based entirely online.
“Terrorgram is an online network that promotes white supremacy and racially-motivated violence,” she said. “There is no place in Australia for antisemitism, hatred, or violence.”
The Australian government has also re-listed for counter-terrorism financing sanctions four other entities that promote nationalist and racist violent extremist ideologies — National Socialist Order, Russian Imperial Movement, Sonnenkrieg Division, and The Base.
Additionally, it imposed sanctions on Hizballah’s new secretary-general and a leading spokesperson for the terrorist group, Naim Qassem. Hizballah is responsible for the deaths of countless civilians in Lebanon, Israel, and across the Middle East.
“This demonstrates (our) government’s commitment to disrupting the activities of terrorists and violent extremists and preventing them from recruiting and radicalizing people online,” Wong said.