ASEAN summit: Peter Dutton’s terror alert for leaders over encrypted messaging

Peter Dutton will warn at ASEAN today that encrypted messaging by terrorists is the greatest threat to intelligence agencies.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Picture: Richard Dobson

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton will warn Asian leaders meeting in Sydney today that the use of encrypted messaging by terrorists to plan attacks poses the greatest threat to the capabilities of intelligence agencies in “modern times”.

The Weekend Australian understands that a key initiative in a landmark memorandum of understanding to be announced today at the ASEAN-Australia counter-terrorism summit will be a transnational agreement to share cyber intelligence and ­policing resources.

It will for the first time establish a regional digital forensics taskforce and uniform criminal legislative frameworks to secure prosecutions.

With Islamic State gaining a foothold in countries such as ­Indonesia, Malaysia and The Philippines, aided by the return of fighters from the Middle East, Mr Dutton will use the opening address of the conference to raise the alarm on the increasing use of dark web applications to ­co-ordinate terrorist activities at a regional level.

“The use of encrypted messaging by terrorists and criminals is potentially the most significant degradation of intelligence capability in modern times,” Mr Dutton will say.

“They now operate trans­nationally — increasingly using the internet and encrypted communication to extend their reach across borders … all the while thriving in the shadows and growing their spheres of influence. The use of cyberspace by terrorists and criminals presents an increasing challenge for our agencies.”

Mr Dutton will say that, as well as using the internet to radicalise and recruit members, and spread messages of hate, terrorist groups are using encrypted messaging apps to plan attacks and avoid detection by law ­enforcement and intelligence agencies.

“For example, the messaging app Whatsapp was used in the March 2017 Westminster terrorist attack, where six people were killed and over 30 injured,” he will say.

Tobias Feakin, Australia’s ambassador for cyber affairs, a role established by Malcolm Turnbull in 2016, told The Weekend Australian: “As the complexity of cyberspace grows, it demands ­increased international attention, co-operation and creativity. And it is why cyber issues will be a central element of the ASEAN leadership summit this weekend.”

Despite military successes in Iraq and Syria in defeating Islamic State in its strongholds, Mr Dutton said the presence of the terror group’s supporters in communities in Australia and neighbouring countries was growing.

“The threat from hierarchical cells remains, but the insidious influence of ISIL on vulnerable people within our communities has increased the risk of lone-actor ­attacks,” he will say.

“The fragmentation of threat vectors is only leading to an even more dangerous security environment. There are now more ­individuals within our own communities who wish to do us harm than ever before. The collapse of the self-proclaimed ISIL caliphate and the liberation of around 7.7 million people is an incredibly positive development, but it poses new challenges.

“Around 220 Australians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join the conflict since 2012, and one of the greatest challenges to Australia and the Southeast Asia region is posed by those individuals returning to our shores.”

The terrorism MoU to be signed by the Turnbull government and ASEAN secretary-general Le Luong Minh is a significant initiative from the special summit.

In an address to de delivered today alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Mr Turnbull will stress the importance of security in Asia, backed by an adherence to the “liberal rules-based order”.

Amid the rise of protectionism under Donald Trump, Mr Turnbull will also urge regional chief executives to be strong advocates for open markets and free trade.

Mr Turnbull is expected to highlight IMF forecasts showing that, over the next five years, six of ASEAN’s economies will grow faster than China’s, and every single one of ASEAN’s economies will grow faster than those of the US and the EU.