FBI Investigates Global Online Terror Network 764 Targeting Children

The online extremist network known as "764" poses a significant and growing threat to children and teenagers by exploiting gaming and social media platforms such as Roblox and Discourse to gain their trust, then coercing them into violent and sexually abusive acts. The FBI is investigating hundreds of cases nationwide, including local incidents in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Vernon, Connecticut, where a 17-year-old girl was arrested for making bomb and swatting threats tied to the group. Members of 764 manipulate victims into creating graphic content, including self-harm and violence, which is then circulated within the network to extort further compliance and elevate participants' status. Authorities warn that the group promotes nihilistic violence and chaos, encouraging behaviors ranging from suicide to mass shootings, making it one of the most disturbing digital threats facing children today. Parents and investigators emphasize the urgent need for vigilance regarding children's online activities, as the network targets victims as young as nine years old and operates internationally. The complex dynamic of victimization and participation within 764 underscores the difficulty in addressing these crimes, as some affected youths are both manipulated victims and coerced contributors to the network's violent ideology.