The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is intensifying efforts against the online network known as 764, which recruits children as young as 11 for violent or sexual coercion and extortion. According to the report, the group pressures minors into creating explicit or violent content that is then distributed among its followers.
The network uses social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps to groom victims. The FBI reports hundreds of ongoing investigations across all 55 field offices, with at least 250 cases linked to 764 as of May. Victims include pre‑teens and teens aged 11 to 15 in at least one indictment.
According to Deputy Director Dan Bongino, the 764 affiliates are engaged in distributing child pornography, cyber‑stalking, and even conspiracies to provide material support to terrorists. The founding of 764 traces back to 2021, when a Texas teenager known as “Felix” allegedly created the group as an offshoot of another network called CVLT.
Experts say the network’s tactics include grooming vulnerable children—especially those with mental‑health issues or marginalized backgrounds—by manipulating them into self‑harm, filming abusive content, or sharing it under threats. In some cases, victims were instructed to carve names into their skin or commit acts of violence against animals or themselves to prove loyalty.
Law enforcement officials are urging parents, educators, and platform providers to remain vigilant. Key warning signs include sudden behavior changes in children, secretive online activity, extreme fear of disclosing what they’re doing, and unexplained aggressive or self‑harm behavior.
From a community‑safety perspective, this development underscores how digital platforms have become arenas for extreme predation rather than just social interaction. Schools, faith groups, and families are being called to step up protections and education around online risks.
