The European police authority warns of groups that persuade minors on the Internet for sexual acts or acts of violence. These groups are organized like sects and searched their victims specifically on gaming platforms.
Europol has warned of the increasing danger of extremely violent cult groups on the Internet. These have mainly endangered children and adolescents in their sights and would force them to act violent acts and sex videos, according to a report by the police authority in the Hague. It is about criminal networks, which also fueled terrorist acts, chaos and violence with the cyber grooming.
The groups are organized according to the information from Europol and sects about a charismatic leader. The members would have to share videos with extreme violence or sex. The more content, the higher they would be in the group.
Grooming means the approach of adults of children on the Internet. The perpetrators win the victims' trust and then strike.
Victim part very young
The groups searched their victims specifically on gaming platforms, at streaming services or on social media. Often it is vulnerable young people between the ages of 8 and 17, ethnic or sexual minorities, with psychological problems. In some cases, self-help groups were even infiltrated. With the videos, the victims could finally be blackmailed again to commit even more acts of violence.
