Europol’s European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) coordinated together with Spain a Referral Action Day targeting violent extremist and terrorist live action role-playing (LARPing) in online gaming environments. Specialised units from 16 countries participated in the action.

Investigators referred over 9 000 links to content promoting jihadist, right-wing, left-wing and anarchist violent extremism and terrorism. The material was disseminated across 47 social media and gaming platforms.

Investigators referred over 9 000 links to content promoting jihadist, right-wing, left-wing and anarchist violent extremism and terrorism. The material was disseminated across 47 social media and gaming platforms.

The action targeted content produced and shared by individuals, groups, networks and organisations using online role-playing to promote violent extremist and terrorist narratives.

Gaming environments used to spread propaganda and recruit young people

Within video game environments, these communities recreate the structures, narratives and symbols of terrorist organisations, as well as terrorist attacks. Activities can include role-playing as members of terrorist groups and recreating events involving them.

These activities can develop into coordinated efforts to produce and disseminate propaganda and recruit new members and followers, including young people and minors. By embedding terrorist or violent extremist ideologies in interactive gaming experiences, these communities contribute to radicalisation.

Identifying and referring such content is crucial in the efforts to disrupt the spread of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda and prevent its use for recruitment and implementation of violent acts. 

Europol’s role is tackling online propaganda

Europol’s EU IRU coordinated the action day, bringing together specialised units to identify and refer violent extremist and terrorist content to the platforms hosting it.

The action builds on a previous referral action daytargeting this phenomenon in 2025. It forms part of the EU IRU’s ongoing programme of coordinated referral actions addressing different forms of terrorist and violent extremist propaganda online.

Targeting radicalisation in online gaming environments

This action reflects the EU's broader efforts to address the exploitation of online gaming environments for terrorist and violent extremist purposes. This emerging threat is highlighted in Europol's EU TE-SAT 2026, while the European Commission's ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism (2026) identifies the need to strengthen cooperation with the gaming industry. Building on these priorities, Europol's EU IRU, including through its Online Gaming Network, is translating this approach into concrete operational action, such as this coordinated Referral Action Day.