Agents describe a loose, tech-savvy community known as “764” that targets children on popular apps and games, leading to arrests and new terrorism designations.
WASHINGTON, DC — The FBI said it has uncovered a sprawling online extremist network that targets minors and other vulnerable users, coercing some into acts of violence, self-harm and sexual exploitation across several states. The disclosure follows a series of arrests and indictments in recent weeks as investigators track a loose confederation of users who recruit and direct victims on mainstream platforms.
Officials say the probe has widened this month after new federal filings and briefings described coordinated cases tied to an online community known as “764.” The network’s members operate in small cells, often anonymous, moving across chat servers, gaming platforms and encrypted messaging to evade detection, according to investigators. Families, prosecutors and child-safety groups say the cases have grown more severe, with teens pressured to stream abuse or violence on camera. The FBI has briefed lawmakers and partnered with international agencies while U.S. attorneys pursue charges that range from child exploitation to threats and support for violent plots.
Agents began publicly linking recent arrests to the same extremist ecosystem this fall. In several cases, investigators say suspects used intimidation, doxxing and blackmail to force children to record abuse, harm animals or themselves, or terrorize others during live video sessions. Supervisory Special Agent Nick DeGeorge, who has worked child exploitation for 15 years, called the material “by far the most graphic” he has encountered, speaking in a recent interview about the ongoing caseload. Parents who lost children to coerced self-harm described harassing messages that escalated into commands to perform on camera, sometimes under threat to relatives. Prosecutors said the network prizes “spectacle” and seeks to push victims into acts that can be quickly shared, increasing fear and control while recruiting new participants.
In court filings unsealed in Maryland, Arizona and California, prosecutors outlined chat logs, burner accounts and servers they say were used to coordinate harassment campaigns and produce abusive content involving minors. One superseding indictment described a hierarchy in which veteran users taught others how to mask identities, move files and pressure victims to comply. Separate affidavits referenced attempts to cultivate minors as both targets and foot soldiers, grooming them to lure classmates or siblings into private channels. Officials said agents are examining hundreds of subjects connected to handles associated with “764” and related offshoots. The FBI’s operations director, Michael Glasheen, told lawmakers last week that online violent extremists remain a priority as agents chase constantly shifting groups and aliases.
The network’s growth, investigators said, has been helped by the ease of cycling through usernames and servers, and by the cross-pollination of tactics from other violent online communities. Records describe users swapping scripts for intimidation and sharing “playbooks” for raids on school-age victims during late-night hours. In one case, authorities said a suspect boasted of pushing a teen to harm himself while peers cheered in a private chat. In another, a California arrest tied to the network stemmed from digital forensics that recovered deleted media from cloud backups. Officials emphasized that many details remain under seal because of ongoing operations, including search warrants aimed at seizing servers and message histories before they disappear.
Authorities say the cases build on years of warnings about “sextortion,” swatting and coordinated harassment, but the recent wave stands out for its explicit use of minors in extremist performance. Families told prosecutors that coercers demanded live obedience under threat of releasing prior images, naming siblings or exposing addresses. Some victims were ordered to stage cruelty against pets or younger children, according to charging papers, to prove submission. Law enforcement agencies abroad have shared intelligence as parallel investigations proceed; Canada last week listed “764” as a terrorist entity, citing the group’s role in directing violent acts and intimidation. U.S. officials said that designation may speed evidence-sharing and asset freezes in cases with overseas links.
Federal filings show a mix of charges as prosecutors test existing law. Several defendants face counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, cyberstalking and interstate threats. In one case, a superseding indictment also alleged conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, reflecting prosecutors’ view of an organized campaign to incite violence. Grand juries have approved additional counts related to animal crushing videos, with investigators arguing those recordings were used to coerce and humiliate targets. Agents said they continue to seek cooperating witnesses within the network and to identify administrators who controlled invite-only channels and coordinated cross-platform moves after takedowns.
The FBI’s investigation has triggered parallel actions from platform operators, who removed servers and accounts after receiving subpoenas and emergency requests, according to court records. But agents said the group’s fluid structure makes disruption difficult, with users rebuilding quickly and returning under new monikers. Forensic teams have leaned on cloud warrants, device unlocks and preserved backups to connect aliases across apps. Prosecutors noted that recent arrests often began with a single report from a parent or school that snowballed into multi-state inquiries as investigators traced IP addresses, payment trails and shared media hashes. Several defendants were arrested after agents intercepted travel or gear purchases they believed were linked to planned in-person assaults.
Lawmakers have pressed federal agencies about gaps in statutes covering coercion that stops short of physical contact. At recent hearings, senators and representatives questioned whether current law gives prosecutors enough tools to charge organizers who never meet victims but direct abuse from behind screens. Justice Department officials said they are reviewing charging strategies while collaborating with states that have broader criminal coercion or terroristic threat provisions. Officials also pointed to specialized victim-support teams now embedded with field offices handling these cases, citing the psychological trauma documented in sealed victim statements.
Separately, families and advocates have pushed for clearer coordination across jurisdictions when minors are targeted across state lines. Police chiefs in several cities said detectives learned mid-case that other departments were chasing the same handles, prompting hurried evidence-sharing agreements. A senior FBI official said agents are expanding liaisons with school districts and pediatric hospitals to recognize patterns earlier and preserve digital evidence before it’s deleted. Internationally, officials said more requests for mutual legal assistance are moving through as evidence shows recruitment chats and storage accounts hosted outside the United States.
Witness interviews and scene reports describe the toll. A father whose 13-year-old son died by suicide in 2022 said messages from an online tormentor escalated to what he called “commands,” which prosecutors later tied to accounts associated with the network. “It’s almost biblical in its definition of evil,” he said in a recent interview. DeGeorge, the FBI supervisor, described agents rotating off cases to manage burnout after sifting through hours of exploitative content. “People need to understand this is organized,” a child-advocacy clinician said, noting patterns of coordinated raids, late-night demands and scripted threats that recur across cities.
As of Wednesday, federal officials said the investigation remains active with additional arrests expected and more search warrants under seal. Prosecutors anticipate further grand jury activity in early January, and officials said multi-agency task forces plan to brief the public again before New Year’s. International partners continue to share indicators linked to “764,” while platform inquiries proceed in parallel. The next major update is expected after upcoming court appearances tied to recent indictments.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.