Authorities sound alarm over online radicalisation of young people

PJ confirms cases of online radicalisation of young people have already been detected in Portugal

The Resident,Portugal/January 13, 2026

Portugal’s government and PJ criminal police have issued fresh warnings about the dangers of online radicalisation and hate content, particularly among children and young people, during the launch of a new national awareness campaign this Tuesday.

Speaking at the conference “Prevenção da Radicalização Online de Crianças e Jovens” (Preventing the Online Radicalisation of Children and Young People), held at PJ headquarters in Lisbon, the national PJ director Luís Neves described radicalisation as “a process of personal transformation in children and young people that leads to violent extremism”.

Neves said that young people are especially vulnerable and confirmed that cases of radicalisation have already been identified in Portugal. According to the PJ chief, online hate content does not surge “out of nowhere” and is usually driven by a combination of “social, psychological, technological and cultural factors.” These include the search for identity and belonging, social media algorithms, anonymity and lack of accountability online, poor digital literacy and critical thinking skills, social and economic frustration, and the influence of public figures, he explained.

He added that radicalisation can take multiple forms, often linked to religious, political, gender or sexual orientation differences, which can create the conditions for “violent extremism fuelled by prejudice and hate.”

During the event, the PJ also presented its new campaign, Ódio online mata offline (Online hate kills offline), which includes real images taken from police investigations. Neves warned of growing signs of “crime as a service”, where criminal networks provide illegal digital tools – including the use of artificial intelligence – to facilitate radicalisation and recruitment, particularly of minors.

The PJ director defended making the national Action Plan to Prevent Radicalisation and Violent Extremism publicly available, arguing that civil society must be fully involved in tackling the problem.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice, who also attended the event. stressed that prevention goes beyond surveillance and bans.

“It must be anchored in digital literacy, critical thinking, human rights education, and training teachers and professionals to recognise warning signs and respond appropriately,” the minister said.

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