Europol today issues an Intelligence Notification calling attention on the rise of violent online communities dedicated to the serious harm of children. This strategic document focuses on online grooming cult groups dedicated to normalising violence and corrupting minors, advocating for the collapse of modern society through acts of terror, chaos and violence, and spreading ideologies that inspire mass shootings, bombings and other acts of crime. These communities recruit offenders and victims on a global scale and function as cults formed around charismatic leaders who use manipulation and deception to lure and control their victims. The communities’ hierarchy is based on the amount of content shared, with the most prolific contributors earning higher rankings. Community members share extremely violent content, ranging from gore and animal cruelty to child sexual exploitation material and depictions of murder.

Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle said: 

Today, digital platforms enable communications globally; violent extremist online communities also leverage this opportunity. Violent perpetrators spread harmful ideologies, often targeting our youth. These networks radicalise minds in the shadows, inciting them to bring violence into the real world. Awareness is our first line of defence. Families, educators and communities must stay vigilant and equip young people with critical thinking skills to resist online manipulation. International cooperation is also imperative – by sharing intelligence and holding perpetrators accountable, we can combat these dangerous communities and safeguard future generations from the grip of extreme violence and crime.

Vulnerable minors targeted through gaming platforms and self-help communities

The perpetrators leverage online gaming platforms, streaming services and social media platforms to identify and lure their victims. The members of these groups target vulnerable young people, particularly minors between 8 and 17 years old – especially who are LGBTQ+, racial minorities and those struggling with mental health issues. In some cases, perpetrators infiltrate online self-help or support communities dedicated to individuals impacted by these issues.

These violent criminal actors employ different tactics to lure and manipulate their victims into producing explicit sexual content, perpetrating self-harm, harming others and even carrying out murders. In the beginning, perpetrators often use ‘love bombing’ techniques – extreme expressions of care, kindness and understanding to gain the trust of the minors – while collecting personal information about their victims. The criminal actors use this information in the exploitation phase of the grooming, when they force the vulnerable minors into producing sexual content and committing acts of violence. The perpetrators then blackmail the victims to do even more harmful acts by threatening to share the victims’ explicit content with their families, friends or online communities.

Once caught in the net of the predators, minors become even more vulnerable – the detection of these criminal activities is crucial.

Beware of these behaviours in your children:

• Secrecy about online activities
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Emotional distress
• Interest in harmful content
• Changes in language or symbols used
• Concealing physical signs of harm

Do not ignore these signs in your children’s online behaviour:

• Unusual activity on platforms
• Interaction with unknown contacts
• Encrypted communications
• Exposure to disturbing content