Spy chief warns of increasing violent radicalization of children

OTTAWA — The kids aren’t alright, warns Canada’s spy chief, as nearly one in ten of CSIS’s terrorism investigations now involves at least one minor who was radicalized online.

In his first annual speech, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director Daniel Rogers said he’s increasingly concerned by growing violent extremism in Canada, particularly among those under 18 years old.

The extremism is motivated by different ideologies such anti-Semitism, xenophobia, misogyny, “extreme interpretations” of religion or accelerationism (the desire to accelerate the collapse of society) that spread faster and easier than ever due to online content, Rogers said.

That means children and teenagers are much more susceptible to falling into the trap of violent extremists online, he warned.

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