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The country's spy watchdog has cautioned the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) to take particular care before singling out fringe movements for attention when scanning for possible threats.
Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Brendon Horsley, in a report released on Thursday, said the SIS had, in general, taken a "carefully constructed approach" to assessing extremism and identifying individuals or groups of concern.
He noted, however, two examples where the agency looked into the online activities within fringe political movements but had kept no record of its justification as to why.
"I was concerned to find no record of the kind of careful consideration necessary before any such activity. The service could only provide a retrospective explanation."
Horsley said the collection was "relatively limited" and at the low end of intrusiveness, but he still would have expected to see a clear link drawn between the party's rhetoric or behaviour and a potential risk to national security.
"I expect to see the service taking care, when scanning for possible national security threats, to avoid any appearance of singling out groups and people for attention purely because they have expressed strong or unorthodox views.
"I think it obvious it should be particularly careful before singling out specific political parties, lobby or campaign groups, or individuals prominent for their advocacy, protest or dissent."
The report recommended that the SIS be required to expressly consider the laws around freedom of expression before embarking on such work.
Section 19 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 states that people have the right to "advocate, protest, or dissent" and that does not "of itself" justify spies from taking any action.
Horsley said his investigation had concluded that condition was not hindering the spies' ability to collect intelligence.