Criminal networks lure Australian teens into crime via encrypted apps

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Hill said that 32 cases of arson and violent attacks in the past six months had been carried out by 14- to 17-year-olds. Most operations were concentrated in Melbourne's north-west suburbs. A police report says criminal networks prefer "children with no criminal record, low IQ or mild intellectual disabilities".

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said legislation targeting Telegram, Signal and Discord would be submitted to parliament next month. The bill will require platforms to "participate in the child-protection alert protocol" and strengthen the harmful-content detection framework in private communications. Australia's National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds said the law "must be designed to protect children rather than criminalise them".

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigations have expanded into New South Wales and South Australia. The Australian Human Rights Commission described civil-society consultation during the legislative process as "indispensable". The ministry plans to submit the bill to parliament in the week of 15 July.