Autism and Extremist Grooming Overview

Understanding the Risks

Extreme right-wing groups are actively targeting the neurodiverse community, especially autistic individuals, for radicalisation and recruitment.

Members of the far-right refer to this as “weaponised autism” and seek to exploit both the vulnerabilities and strengths associated with autism. This term is used frequently on far-right platforms.

The media have, in some cases, inferred a direct link between autism and extremism. Autism does not cause extremism. What we are seeing is targeted exploitation. Most autistic people are never involved in extremism, and autism itself is not a risk factor for hatred or violence.

To protect the autistic community from this threat, greater awareness and understanding of this issue is vital, so steps can be taken to prevent it.

Extreme right-wing recruitment is a rarely discussed danger compared with other online threats, such as sexual exploitation and bullying. This lack of awareness allows the problem to continue and grow. Extremist groups use a range of tactics to manipulate and groom individuals over time, often without the person or their families realising what is happening until they are already deeply involved.

The extreme right-wing is increasingly operating in online spaces, including within the gaming community. They are highly organised and sophisticated in the methods they use to manipulate and groom people and are very aware of the vulnerabilities that can be exploited.

These include:

• Loneliness

• Social isolation

• Feeling unheard or misunderstood

• Feeling a lack of belonging 

• Having been the victim of bullying 

  
  

These are difficulties often faced by autistic people, who may seek out a community and sense of belonging online, and they may find interacting online easier than in-person. The extreme right-wing deliberately manipulates these feelings and offer friendship, acceptance and understanding. However, they will instead lead people into a world of hatred, fear and isolation and cause devastation to their families. 

As well as taking advantage of these vulnerabilities in order to radicalise and recruit individuals, extreme right-wing groups also attempt to exploit the strengths often associated with autism for their own agenda.

These strengths include:

• Deep focus

• Special interests

• A strong sense of justice (which can be redirected towards extremist narratives)

• Good with technology

• Loyalty (which can make it harder to disengage)

To help protect vulnerable individuals, including the autistic community, it is vital to have a greater understanding of the process of radicalisation and to know the warning signs to look out for. Changes in behaviour can be gradual, for example, more time spent online, increased secrecy and using language that feels rehearsed or scripted. Extremist organisations will also attempt to isolate the individual from family and friends, causing them to become increasingly reliant on the organisation.

Some behaviours, such as increased secrecy and withdrawing, can also be normal teenage behaviours. So, especially in the early stages of radicalisation, it can be difficult to recognise.  At first, it may look like harmless online friendships. 

Exposure to extremist material can be a gradual process, which often begins with memes aimed at manipulating fears and emotions and edgy jokes to normalise harmful ideology. Initial contact is often made on mainstream or gaming platforms, with interaction then moving to less regulated platforms, where the individual is exposed to increasingly extreme content. Here, radicalisation can accelerate rapidly.

Understanding this danger is key to protection and prevention. 

Prevention is especially important, as once someone has become deeply involved in extremist ideology, disengagement and recovery can take a long time. Extremist groups create strong emotional dependence, isolate individuals from family and friends and make leaving feel frightening. Deradicalisation is a long process. Rebuilding trust, relationships and a sense of belonging outside the extremist group can take months or years.

Open communication and listening to individuals are vital.

Providing understanding and support to help people overcome struggles they face may prevent feelings of isolation that could make them vulnerable to recruitment. It is also important to recognise the difficulties faced by the autistic community and to provide supportive, accepting spaces both online and offline. Awareness of the tactics used to manipulate and groom people will hopefully help to prevent vulnerable members of our society being exploited by the extreme right wing.

If you have concerns about yourself or a loved one, please share your concerns and do not hesitate to reach out for support. The following organisations can help:

ACT Early is a 24-hour support line, which is open every day. You can reach them on 0800 011 3764, where you can share your concerns in confidence with specially trained officers, or visit their website at www.actearly.uk

Exit Hate provides support without judgement for individuals involved in extremism and for family members of those involved.  Here you can access a range of support from people with lived experience – both former members of extreme far right groups and family members of those involved, who understand what you are going through.

You can visit their website at www.exithate.com, email on info@exithate.org or call on 0800 999 1945 Monday to Thursday 10:30-3pm.

If concerns relate to a child or young person in education, speak to a teacher or the school’s/college’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will be able to offer support and make a referral to the Prevent programme.

Sophie and Shelly - Exit Hate volunteers.