SYDNEY: Australia’s domestic intelligence chief, Mike Burgess, issued a stark warning about the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on national security, predicting that AI advancements will significantly enhance the capabilities of adversaries, leading to increased espionage, disinformation, and radicalization.
Burgess, the director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), highlighted the internet’s role as a potent incubator of extremism and cautioned that AI could expedite radicalization processes.
According to Burgess, AI represents a “step change” in the capabilities of Australia’s enemies, echoing sentiments expressed by counterparts from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Britain’s MI5. While acknowledging the potential threats posed by AI, Burgess also underscored the immense opportunities it presents for innovation.
Burgess emphasized the need for mandatory restrictions on AI development and usage, signaling the Australian government’s proactive approach to addressing these challenges. In February, a panel of legal and scientific experts was established to shape future policy decisions in this domain.
Additionally, Burgess called on technology companies to collaborate with intelligence agencies to establish lawful access for end-to-end encryption. He argued that unregulated encryption provides a secure platform for extremists and criminals to plan and coordinate illicit activities, hindering ASIO’s investigative capabilities.
The urgency of addressing these issues was highlighted by recent knife attacks in Australia, including a religiously motivated incident targeting an ultra-conservative church bishop in Sydney. Burgess disclosed that ASIO is actively investigating nationalist and racist extremist networks that exploit encrypted chat platforms to communicate with offshore extremists, underscoring the critical need for enhanced visibility into extremist activities through targeted access to encrypted communications.
