Europol Warns Of Violent Content Targeting European Youth

European police are monitoring an online network, referred to as 'the Com' or community, that encourages and coerces juveniles to commit extreme violence against themselves or others. The report notes the network is mainly composed of children. The agency warned that the nature of this threat is posing risks to the safety of minors. Nearly two-thirds of those arrested are identified as part of this trend. The agency is investigating the network for involvement in child sexual exploitation, cyber attacks, extortion, assault, rape, murder, and violent extortion. Europol is working alongside various police forces, including Angarda Shirkona, to investigate the group. Criminals engage in these activities for financial motivation or to coerce children into producing additional sexual content. The process involves trapping children online to gain control over them, according to the report. Europol reports an increase in violent content being distributed to youth across Europe via the internet. The content includes videos of children engaging in self-harm, such as wrapping themselves in barbed wire, setting themselves on fire, or using knives against one another. Europol intends to meet with technology companies to address this trend. The source described the phenomenon as violence on demand.