The emerging threat of violent, exploitative digital ‘com networks’: what do we need to know?

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · Aug 19, 2026 · 756 words · By Bricklyn Priebe; Larissa Christensen

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What to know about Online Grooming

The article describes 'com networks,' online groups that target vulnerable youth to coerce them into self-harm or violence against others. It provides warning signs for parents and suggests a collaborative approach between schools, parents, and law enforcement for prevention.

Propaganda risk 30%

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left12%

Center76%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

For many parents, keeping their children safe online is a top priority.

Why it matters

But now there’s an emerging threat: “com networks”.

Common ground

Com networks (short for community networks) are online groups that mostly target vulnerable young people in the online spaces they use every day, including gaming platforms and social media.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Online Grooming story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14?
How does this story connect Online Grooming with Cybercrime over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/the-emerging-threat-of-violent-exploitative-digital-…

analyticsAnalysis

30%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 80% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3

info Single Source 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

verified

Claim 1: “If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia confirms Lifeline is an Australian crisis support service, and a specific web result from Lifeline Tasmania confirms the contact number 13 11 14.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lifeline is a non-profit organisation that provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service in Australia. Volunteer crisis supporters provide suicide prevention services, mental health support …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifeline_(crisis_support_servi…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In many countries, dialing either 112 (used in Europe and parts of Asia) or 911 (used mostly in the Americas) will connect callers to the local emergency services. However, not all countries use those…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_emergency_telephone_nu…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Trans Lifeline is a peer support and crisis hotline 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering phone support to transgender people. It is the first transgender crisis hotline to exist in the United Sta…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Lifeline

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “In June, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the threats are “confronting”.”

CORROBORATED

A web search result explicitly quotes AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett in June stating that the threats are 'confronting'. Wikipedia confirms her role as AFP Commissioner.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is the principal federal law enforcement agency of the Australian Government, responsible for investigating crime and protecting the national security of the Common…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Federal_Police

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Krissy Barrett is the ninth Australian Federal Police commissioner, and the first woman to lead Australia's federal police force. She replaced Reece Kershaw as the Australian Federal Police Commissio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krissy_Barrett

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reece Kershaw is an Australian police officer who was the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police from 2019 to 2025 and the commissioner of the Northern Territory Police from 2014 to 2019. Kersh…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reece_Kershaw

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 3: “Europol recently removed more than 4,000 websites linked to “The Com” network in a joint operation with international authorities.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While Wikipedia mentions 'The Com' as a transnational criminal network, none of the provided evidence (Europol home page, other web results) confirms the specific detail about the removal of 4,000 websites in a joint operation. The claim is not corroborated by the provided evidence set.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Com, also known as The Community, is a transnational online criminal network made of multiple cybercriminal networks that operate internationally. The network has committed various cybercrimes tha…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Com

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Europol, officially the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU). Established in 1998, it is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europol

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Inter Europol Competition is a Polish auto racing team that competes in endurance racing. The team is contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter_Europol_Competition

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Com networks (short for community networks) are online groups that mostly target vulnerable young people in the online spaces they use every day, including gaming platforms and social media.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm that 'Com networks' (including the 764 group) target vulnerable youth via gaming platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, as well as social media.

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web search NEUTRAL — The network leverages AI-generated content to appear credible and exploits current events to promote its ideology. 764 deliberately targets vulnerable youth, often starting on popular gaming sites lik…
https://www.telus.com/en/wise/resources/content/article/the-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The "764" organization operating within the network has also been associated with features of violent Satanism. The lure into the network's activities takes place on social media channels and gaming p…
https://www.suojellaanlapsia.fi/en/post/police-concerned-abo…

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web search NEUTRAL — Com networks target vulnerable individuals through fake support groups.They have even set up fake support groups for this purpose. Victims are approached on gaming platforms, livestreams, direct messa…
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/chilling-online-co…

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Claim 5: “The eSafety Commissioner also has a reporting page for online harm.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web search results for this claim are entirely irrelevant, discussing bronchitis and COPD instead of the eSafety Commissioner.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 31, 2024 · Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking. If you have repeated bouts of bronchit…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/sy…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 31, 2024 · If you have chronic bronchitis, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist). What you can do Before your appointment, make a list of answers to the …
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bronchitis/di…

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web search NEUTRAL — Jun 27, 2026 · Bronchitis Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which ca…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms…

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Claim 6: “Through threats, they convince young people to harm themselves and others.”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources describe the use of coercion and threats to pressure young people into self-harm or harming others (including siblings).

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web search NEUTRAL — The boy allegedly had links to a network known as 764. Such groups are known to target young people in games including Roblox and Minecraft as well as communities struggling with mental health or sexu…
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/j…

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web search NEUTRAL — This material can desensitise people to increasingly extreme behaviour. The agency said: “Com networks use extreme coercion to manipulate their victims.” It goes on that these “are often children, int…
https://thebusinesstimes.co.uk/urgent-warning-as-sadistic-on…

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web search NEUTRAL — The bureau said that members of the networks—referred to as "764" for the Texas ZIP code where it reportedly originated—befriend minors online via video games, social media and online forums, then coe…
https://www.newsweek.com/fbi-warns-parents-across-america-si…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.