The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is issuing a warning to be wary of violent online groups exploiting children and youth.
The RCMP said these groups, often made up of youth, are known to target and manipulate vulnerable children and youth across widely accessible online platforms.
For example, the "COM" (short for "community") is a virtual network of groups and individuals engaged in illicit activities that glorify child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, pedophilia, violence, cruelty, and gore. They deliberately target, victimize, and recruit vulnerable people, including children and youth.
The groups may do it to build up their online notoriety, further ideological motivations by degrading society, recruit, vet, initiate, and radicalize others or desensitize viewers in preparation for more extreme acts and content.
They operate in accessible online spaces such as social media platforms, applications, and online games like Telegram, Discord, Roblox, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitch and Steam.
Police said predators often use grooming tactics to gain a child or youth’s trust. This can include establishing friendly, romantic, or coercive relationships. Communication can happen gradually over time but can also increase rapidly.
The predator encourages the child or youth to take part in acts that increasingly shame, incriminate, and isolate them.
These acts can include recording or photographing themselves, siblings, or others in sexually explicit poses, committing sexual acts, sexually exploiting others, including minors or siblings, harming or killing animals, including family pets, self-harming, attempting suicide, or committing other acts of violence.
Photos and videos shared with or taken by members are often circulated within the COM network, further shaming the victim and creating material used to desensitize and target others.
Parents are caregivers are urged to take the following precautions.
- Monitor online activities
- Promote online safety practices
- Maintain open communication about the dangers that exist online
- Become familiar with the apps and platforms your children are using
- Foster an open dialogue and empower your child to approach you in the event they or someone they know are being targeted or victimized
- Never judge; approach situations calmly, with support and understanding
- Use community resources if you suspect something is going on with your child, whether that be through school, family physicians, community groups, or your local police
If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
