The Australian Federal Police chief fears an increase in espionage and foreign interference threats on top of a spate of disinformation during the upcoming election.
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Commissioner Reece Kershaw says the counter foreign interference taskforce has made a number of disruptions in the past 18 months, including those facing democratic institutions.
"Most Australians won't see foreign interference or be targeted by foreign interference," he told Senate estimates.
"But it has the potential to affect every Australian because it erodes democracy and our institutions."
Mr Kershaw also expressed his concern about the prevalence of disinformation in the lead-up to the federal election, due before May 21.
"Where disinformation reaches a criminal threshold - particularly where it urges or advocates violence - the AFP will be exercising the full force of its powers," he said.
Mr Kershaw said the AFP's priority remains with countering the monitoring and harassing of people in Australia thought to be dissidents by authoritarian countries, including attempts at silencing members of certain communities from criticising their home country.
"Foreign interference is an insidious and resource-intensive crime, and one that I expect will continue to grow and converge with other crime types in Australia," he said.
"A priority continues to be the development of national arrangements to identify and respond to interference against diaspora communities in Australia."
The first person to be charged under foreign interference laws introduced in 2018 is due to face a Victorian court in March.
Cyber crime also remains in the sights of the federal police, Mr Kershaw said.
Australian Associated Press
