<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australian "><span>Australian</span></a><span> government is being warned the "sovereign citizen" movement has become a clear and present threat to the nation's security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Long regarded as "mostly a nuisance" by authorities, "sovereign citizens" - a loose description for people who hold extreme anti-government views - require a stronger response, according to </span><a href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/global-sovereign-citizen-movement?utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz--f5EZsi5oyNLRvzondl7kjURuxizQVQTKL6Me6Ucya7_mH6MB45Ka4DInufHSKZZoTYVH98DcXwErzdcVeFrzFWjP7sQ&amp;_hsmi=21430087&amp;utm_content=21430087&amp;utm_source=hs_email" rel="" target="" title="a study by the Lowy Institute think tank"><span>a study by the Lowy Institute think tank</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The think tank said the mental image of "sovereign citizens" as being eccentrics who would typically dispute a parking fine based on claims law enforcement had no jurisdiction over them, has been reshaped in recent years.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/what-is-a-sovereign-citizen-movement-beliefs-explainer/968ac369-a7bd-4a6d-9465-7bc2a1d13bdf" rel="" target="_blank" title="What is the 'sovereign citizen' movement?"><strong><span>What is the 'sovereign citizen' movement?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Extremists have been behind violent crimes in Australia and overseas, and the movement has received a flood of new recruits following the COVID-19 pandemic as people retaliated against lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccination requirements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The report cites accused police killer </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-porepunkah-search-day-two-hunt-for-accused-police-killer/cfed16c8-9280-4b71-91f8-9683cb5a0d68" rel="" target="_blank" title="Dezi Freeman"><span>Dezi Freeman</span></a><span>, the Australian "sovereign citizen" accused of shooting dead two police officers in Victoria's High Country and wounding another last year, as an example.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also attempted to arrest a magistrate and several police officers while appearing in Wangaratta Magistrates Court.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sovereign-citizen-movement-serious-threat-for-australia-lowy-institute-warns/5c4c6d74-7015-4994-bd6b-2a6e90945c9a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman, who remains on the run but who police say may be dead, was a self-declared "sovereign citizen".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His alleged actions and other threats against government officials show the need for stronger responses to a movement that has grown across the world to 26 countries largely through online channels, the study warns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/renewed-search-for-dezi-freeman-wraps-up-without-success/d77caaa9-94f7-4910-b6b5-bb4313ede01b" rel="" target="_blank" title="Renewed search for Dezi Freeman wraps up without success"><strong><span>Renewed search for Dezi Freeman wraps up without success</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Meaningful action is needed to reduce this global spread of harmful online content," the researchers warn.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One potential measure would be governments working with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology" rel="" target="_blank" title="technology "><span>technology</span></a><span> companies and international law enforcement agencies to counter the movement's presence online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The researchers say the creation of a global database could help track information on sovereign citizen online influencers, because their ideology is spread by websites, social media posts, online forums and encrypted messaging platforms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Governments could also work with tech giants, such as Meta and Microsoft, through the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism to redesignate 'sovereign citizen' networks as designated terrorist entities online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If this happened, it would enable tech companies to scrub accounts from their platforms and improve monitoring them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and 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