CI-ISAC Australia, the industry-led, not-for-profit driving collective defence across the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors, has joined the Google Priority Flagger Program in a move to accelerate fraud detection and prevention.
The program enables trusted partners to fast-track the identification and reporting of fraudulent or malicious activity on Google platforms. By combining Google’s review and takedown capabilities with CI-ISAC’s cross-sector threat-intelligence network, the initiative aims to disrupt scams before they can impact essential services or the broader community.
Dedicated Channel for Members
Under the arrangement, CI-ISAC will operate a dedicated reporting channel for members, giving their submissions priority review by Google’s security teams. This will integrate with CI-ISAC’s automated and ad-hoc intelligence-sharing systems, supported by both Google and the organisation’s National Intelligence Office (NIO).
CI-ISAC co-founder and CEO David Sandell said the move is part of a broader push to strengthen members’ cyber resilience.
“Our participation in the Google Priority Flagger Program is a key enabler for how CI-ISAC extends valuable cyber capabilities to members,” Sandell said. “Deepening our work with Google to identify downstream threats is another example of our collective defence approach to safeguard critical infrastructure entities across Australia.”
Addressing a Sophisticated Threat
Fraud and scam activity is increasingly driven by organised crime groups operating across borders, according to Google Australia’s Bec Turner, Government Affairs & Public Policy.
“Scams are often not orchestrated by individuals, but by sophisticated organised crime units,” Turner said. “Dealing with this complex criminal threat requires cross-sector collaboration, and we are pleased for CI-ISAC to join the program in Australia.”
The program is now available to all CI-ISAC members across Australia’s 11 legislated critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, water, healthcare, transport and communications.
