The federal government is hoping to use reformed jihadists who have returned from the Middle East to combat the flow of extremist propaganda circulating online , a new report suggests . The method of countering online propaganda from extremist groups like the Islamic State has been used in Britain , where renowned former militants attempt to deter prospective jihadists from going abroad . The news of the government enlisting reformed jihadis comes after Attorney-General George Brandis last month announced an $ 18 million campaign to battle extremist propaganda , reports The Age . Attorney-General George Brandis last month announced an $ 18 million campaign to battle extremist propaganda online . The operation , which will be launched in July , will employ a team of technology experts to assess the impact of extremist propaganda online . The government also plans to seek the help of platforms such as Google , Twitter and Facebook , to counter extremist messages . The urgency of the cause was brought to national attention this week , when it was reported that 18-year-old Melbourne teenager Jake Bilardi-who was radicalised and lured to the Middle East online- was apparently killed while carrying out a suicide car bombing in Iraq . Bilardi , who left materials for improvised explosives at his family home , was identified by Fairfax Media this week as the Islamic State recruit declared the 'white jihadi ' in a viral image of him in front of an Islamic State flag . A viral image of Melbourne teenager Jake Bilardi ( centre ) , who was believed to have been killed this week while carrying out a suicide car bombing in Iraq . The apparent death of Bilardi-who was radicalised online-brings the urgency of Jihadist propaganda to a national podium . The use of former jihadists as poster boys is precarious for the Australian government , as they need to ensure the subjects have not committed any crimes or been prosecuted in the past . It is illegal to fight with a listed terrorist organisation , to fight against government forces in a foreign country and to travel to parts of Iraq and Syria without a lawful reason . Furthermore , the government would need to keep their support for the individual clandestine , since a government allegiance would thwart the individual 's credibility in the eyes of the would-be jihadis . The use of reformed jihadis to deter radicalisation is precarious , since the government can not endorse criminals , and fighting for a terrorist organisation is against the law . Muhammad Manwar Ali , a reformed jihadist who now works with the British government to dissuade young men from partaking in Middle Eastern conflicts . One example of a reformed jihadist being used for this cause is Muhammad Manwar Ali , who works with the British government to foil the spread of radicalisation , reports New York Times . Mr Ali , who has appeared on prominent media platforms such as ITV to speak out against young men travelling to partake in Middle Eastern conflicts , fought as a jihadi himself in Afghanistan , Bangladesh , and Sri Lanka . Now he runs an educational centre in Ipswitch , eastern Britain , where he tries to deter young men from the teachings of radical Sheiks and enlighten them to the complexities of the war in the middle east . Abdullah-X , a cartoon made by another former jihadist to deter young men from radicalisation . Another British reformed extremist who chooses to remain anonymous has even created a cartoon character for the cause named Abdullah-X . The character appears in a number of comics and a YouTube channel , which has received hundreds of thousands of views since being uploaded last year . In an exclusive interview with Sky News , the cartoonist wrote ' I have the knowledge , the background and the experience to understand that narratives such as the one driven by extremist groups have beaten mainstream society in access to the internet . '' While the federal government is believed to be seeking a suitable candidate to voice their message , they have yet to come across one that fits the criteria .
Using former jihadis to counter radicalisation is a tactic used in Britain . ji Brandis recently announced $ 100 million against opposition activists . The apparent arrest of Jake Bilardi brought the topic to national attention . The government will ensure the subjects are not convicted of any crimes .