US extremist content creator banned from Australia for life

Controversial American online personality Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, known online as “Sneako”, has been permanently barred from applying for an Australian visa after the federal government cancelled his current visa over concerns about hateful, antisemitic and extremist content.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the decision on Wednesday, saying the government would use strengthened migration powers to prevent people spreading hatred from entering Australia.

“Our government has made it very clear we will use every power available to us to protect our community from people coming to this country to spread hatred,” Burke said.

“The clauses that have been used to cancel this visa were amended by the parliament early this year.

“That means it’s not simply the current visa that is cancelled; there is now a lifetime ban preventing him from ever applying for another visa to Australia.

“We are a better country when he is somewhere else.”

De Balinthazy has faced repeated criticism over comments and online content widely condemned as antisemitic. He has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories involving Jews, praising Adolf Hitler in livestreams and interviews, and amplifying rhetoric associated with extremist online figures.

Jewish organisations and commentators in the United States and elsewhere have previously raised concerns about his public statements and associations, while major platforms including YouTube and Twitch removed or restricted his accounts over breaches of their policies relating to hateful conduct and misinformation.

The cancellation followed growing political pressure after De Balinthazy posted videos from Sydney during a visit to Australia.

One video featured former Sonny Bill Williams discussing Islam and De Balinthazy’s reported conversion to the religion in 2023.

He also interviewed Ahmad Hraichie, known online as the “Muslim undertaker”. Hraichie is the father of Bourhan Hraichie, who was transferred to the Goulburn Correctional Centre Supermax prison after allegedly carving an Islamic State slogan into another inmate’s forehead while in custody.

De Balinthazy has previously been banned from platforms including YouTube and Twitch and has repeatedly faced accusations of antisemitic rhetoric, misogyny and extremist commentary.

Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam earlier this week called for the visa cancellation, describing De Balinthazy as “a misogynist” who “praises Hitler” and “is an antisemite”.

Sky News first reported the visa cancellation after earlier revealing the influencer had entered Australia.

Before news of the cancellation became public, De Balinthazy posted on X: “Thanks for having me Australia.”

Later, he denied being deported, claiming his “South East Asia tour ended” naturally and that he was already travelling home.

The case has added to debate over extremist figures entering Australia at a time of heightened concern about online radicalisation, antisemitism and hate-fuelled violence following the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack during the “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration, in which 15 people were murdered.

The federal government has since introduced tougher visa cancellation powers and expanded counter-extremism measures aimed at preventing hate preachers and extremist figures from entering the country.