AFP on alert for domestic protests, disinformation and foreign interference as election looms

Asio’s boss warned Australians could be radicalised by ‘an echo chamber’ of extremist messaging, misinformation and conspiracies during the pandemic. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The Australian federal police commissioner has sounded a warning about disinformation ahead of the federal election campaign, telling a parliamentary inquiry police will use the “full force” of the law when conduct reaches a criminal threshold.

Reece Kershaw used an opening statement to a Senate estimates committee on Monday night to tell senators he was concerned about the impact of disinformation “on the integrity of our institutions and the election itself”.