Europol sends out warning for online violent grooming via encrypted communication platforms

Europol has issued an Intelligence Notification, stating that more and more young people are pressured to join cult communities that pose a serious threat to public safety. Most of the time, the grooming happens on secured communication platforms.

These groups tend to normalize violence and corrupt minors, ranging from advocating for the collapse of modern society, to spreading ideologies that inspire mass shootings and bombings. They also share extremely harmful content in order to justify heinous acts like animal cruelty and child abuse.

“Their main targets are minors and vulnerable youth, who are identified and groomed on mainstream online platforms, and manipulated through psychological coercion. Through this coercion, the perpetrators enforce compliance and maintain control over the victims,” Europol says in its Intelligence Notification.

Perpetrators actively seek vulnerable people on widely accessible platforms, such as gaming platforms, streaming services, and social media. Online contact typically starts with innocent interactions about extensive and relevant day-to-day experiences. This is a well-known technique called ‘love bombing’, where the perpetrator overwhelms a target with care, kindness and understanding.

As soon as the recruiters have gained their trust, the grooming process begins. Communication then moves to more private channels, like communication platforms with end-to-end encryption. That’s where the exploitation takes place and youngsters are encouraged to commit extremely violent acts.

“The detection of such criminal activities is paramount, not only to deter violence and harm against the targets, at-risk young people, but also to avert the risk of victims being manipulated into becoming offenders and damaging more individuals,” Europol proclaims.

“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,” Catherine De Bolle, Europol’s Executive Director, says in a statement.

In order to identify and recognize young people that might be influenced by violent cult groups, parents or caretakers should look out for secretive online behavior, signs of withdrawal and isolation, emotional distress, and interest in harmful content.