DIGITAL LIFE

Europol warns of rise in online groups dedicated to radicalising young people

Europol today issued a warning about the rise of online groups dedicated to “extremely violent child abuse”, warning that they seek to “normalise violence and corrupt minors” by spreading ideologies that inspire “mass shootings or bomb attacks”.

The European police coordination agency issued a notification to draw attention to the rise of these communities that “recruit abusers and victims” globally and function as “cults led by charismatic figures who manipulate and deceive” their followers in order to control them.

These groups, the agency explains, seek to “normalise violence and corrupt minors, promoting the collapse of modern society through terror, chaos and violence, and spreading ideologies that inspire mass shootings, bombings and other crimes”. 

The hierarchy within these groups is based on “the amount of content shared [online], with the most active members gaining higher rankings” and participants exchanging “extremely violent material, including gory images, animal cruelty, child sexual exploitation and depictions of murder”, the Hague-based agency said.

The offenders use “gaming platforms, streaming services and social media” to identify and lure victims, and they mainly target vulnerable young people, mainly between the ages of 8 and 17, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities or young people with mental health problems.

“In some cases, the offenders infiltrate online self-help or support communities, where victims seek help for their emotional problems”, Europol warned.

The leaders of these communities use “various manipulative tactics” to lure their victims and “force them to generate sexually explicit content, self-harm, harm others or even commit murder”.

Among the methods identified by Europol is what is known as “love bombing”, which is explained as “extreme expressions of affection, understanding and kindness to gain the trust” of the minor.

As the relationship progresses, they collect sensitive personal data from the victim, before moving on to “the exploitation phase”, in which they force the minor to produce sexual content or commit acts of violence.

If the victim does not comply, the aggressors threaten to share the explicit images or videos with family, friends or on social media.

“Once trapped in this network, minors become even more vulnerable”, so “detecting these criminal activities in time is crucial”, stresses Europol, sharing a list of “warning signs” in children. “Pay attention to, among other things, your online activities (interaction with unknown contacts, use of encrypted communications or exposure to worrying content), social isolation, emotional distress, interest in violent or harmful content, changing language, using unfamiliar symbols and hiding physical signs of harm,” the agency describes.

“Perpetrators spread harmful ideologies, often targeting young people. These networks radicalise in the shadows, inciting them to bring violence into the real world. Raising awareness is our first line of defence. Families, educators and communities must be vigilant and equip young people with critical thinking skills to resist online manipulation,” added Europol Director Catherine De Bolle.

According to her, international cooperation is essential, as is the continued sharing of information and holding perpetrators accountable, in order to “tackle these dangerous communities and protect future generations from extremism and crime”.

mundophone