Fears environmental activists signing up children and harvesting their contact details

The Youth Rising wing of the climate activist group has come under scrutiny after collecting information from children including their school year and Instagram handles.

Extreme climate pests Rising Tide have established a wing to sign up children, with the organisation harvesting information from young people including their school and school year, email address, phone number and Instagram handle.

The activities of the Youth Rising wing of the activist group have now triggered warnings over data collection, as well as the need for proper checks and balances to protect children.

The Daily Telegraph’s inquiries to Rising Tide were responded to by a 16-year-old spokesman named “Samuel”, who insisted “young adult mentors” who interacted with the youth branch had working with children checks.

Other questions, including who manages Youth Rising and how many adult members engaged with the wing hold working with children checks, went unanswered.

“I’m 16 years-old and I’m one of the members of Youth Rising,” Samuel said.

“Youth Rising is a collective of independent young people who care about climate and are fighting for a safe future for our generation.”

Climate protesters in kayaks paddle out to the shipping channel continue their attempt to block access to Newcastle coal port. Picture: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

“Everyone involved in Youth Rising is under 18 and welcome all young people who are passionate about our planet to join our growing movement.

“Occasionally some young adult mentors support us, and they all have working with children’s checks.”

The Youth Rising sign-up page states: “If you are interested in becoming a member of an awesome community of youth climate activists you are in the perfect place”.

The Web page, which appears to have been created in late 2024, implores young people to “fill out this form and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible”.

Compulsory details required to sign up include a first and last name, school year, postcode and an email address.

Other data which can be optionally added include Instagram handles and school attended.

Revelations of the gathering of young peoples private information triggered warnings from the office of Australia’s Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland.

“The Albanese Government expects all Australian organisations to act in the best interests of our children,” a spokesman for Ms Rowland said.

NSW Police stop climate protesters who paddled out to the shipping channel during the People's Blockade in November 2024 in Newcastle. Picture: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

A spokesman from the Office of the Children’s Guardian reiterated that any adult in child-related work, paid or unpaid, requires a Working with Children Check clearance.

“It is an offence to engage an adult in child-related work without a WWCC clearance,” he said.

“It is also an offence to work in child-related work without a WWCC clearance.

“Penalties include fines and prison sentences.”

Rising Tide made major headlines following a blockade on the Port of Newcastle last year, which resulted in more than 100 members being arrested after a flotilla was organised to stop movement in and out of the docks.

The group has applied for an event licence to again blockade the Newcastle Port, which the NSW Police are set to oppose at a briefing hosted by Newcastle council on Tuesday.

Members aligned to the group also crashed multiple press conferences during the federal election campaign earlier this year, including ones featuring Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.

Originally published as Fears environmental activists signing up children and harvesting their contact details