Police Target ‘Sadistic’ Network of Exploiting Australian Children, 59 People Identified so Far

Warning: This story contains material which some people may find confronting and disturbing. 

Fifty-nine Australians have been identified as being members of a decentralised online network responsible for what the Australian Federal Police (AFP) describe as “the sadistic exploitation of Australia’s youth,” as well as a range of other crimes.

It has announced the establishment of a specialised taskforce to deal with the issue, which is causing increasing concern internationally.

The network, made up of loosely affiliated sub-groups, has taken part in an extensive and varied range of criminal activity, ranging from cyberattacks on communication companies to the production of violent extremist material and what the AFP calls “the violent exploitation of youth,” mostly young girls.

They say members of the network are typically young males from English-speaking countries who share common beliefs around violent extremism, nihilism, Nazism, Satanism, and sadism. They operate in very accessible online spaces, such as social media platforms, apps, and online games, including Discord, Telegram, Roblox, Minecraft, Twitch, and Steam.

“In Australia, members of the network are using their perceived anonymity and online sophistication to target, groom, and exploit vulnerable youth, especially young girls, for their sadistic pleasure, as well as building notoriety and status in their online criminal community,” police say.

This takes the form of coercing victims into performing explicit and violent acts on themselves, siblings, others, or their pets. Videos of this are then traded among members of the network to build their status.

Self-harming can include cutting, stabbing, or “fansigning” (writing or carving specific things onto one’s body).

Three Local Arrests to Date

The AFP says it moved quickly against the alleged offenders, resulting in nine international and three domestic arrests. It has also intervened to stop the ongoing victimisation of a number of children in Australia.

While the AFP released no details of the children involved, the FBI says victims are typically between the ages of 10 and 17 years old, but there have been some as young as 9 years old.

These violent actors target vulnerable people who struggle with a variety of mental health issues, such as depression, eating disorders, or suicidal ideation.

They often groom their victims by first establishing a trusting or romantic relationship before eventually manipulating and coercing them into engaging in escalating harmful behaviour designed to shame and isolate them.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the newly established Taskforce Pompilid would continue to use the full powers of the AFP and its international partners to protect victims and target offenders in the network.

Offenders are also responsible for large-scale cyberattacks, extremist-inspired violence, doxxing, “swatting,” and violent offences in Australia and overseas. Swatting is the practice of calling in false complaints to cause armed police to arrive at the home of the victim.

A team of experienced investigators and analysts, including cybercrime, counterterrorism, and child protection specialists, will work closely with domestic and international law enforcement partners to target the network.

Barrett described the offenders as “cowards who hide in the dark corners of the internet and partake in criminal activities. [They] believe they can hide online and commit abhorrent crimes with no repercussions for the pain caused from behind a keyboard.”

“The crimes these individuals commit, whether that be cyberattacks or the exploitation of a vulnerable child for their own sadistic pleasure, demonstrate no consideration for the dignity, privacy and safety of human beings,” she said.

“Taskforce Pompilid is the AFP’s commitment to eradicating these individuals—we want to take them away from their computer screens and put them before real-world courts to face justice for their crimes.”

Suicide of Victims the ‘End Game,’ FBI Warns

The FBI warns that many members of the network “have an end-goal of forcing the victims they extort or coerce to livestream their own suicide for the network’s entertainment or the threat actor’s own sense of fame.”

It has more than 250 investigations currently underway into a single such group, with every single one of its 55 field offices across the country handling a case, according to FBI Assistant Director David Scott, the head of the Bureau’s Counterterrorism Division.

Parents and carers are encouraged to remain supportive of young people and provide opportunities for open conversations about appropriate and respectful interactions online.

Potential signs a young person is engaging with members of the online crime network, or is a victim of sadistic online exploitation, include:

• Signs of self-harm, particularly while online;
• Changes in eating or sleeping habits;
• Sudden withdrawal from family, friends or any usual social connection;
• Secretive online behaviour and extended periods of use with online devices; and
• Use of extreme language and symbols, or rejection of previously held morals.

Where to Get Help

If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).

For more information on sadistic online exploitation and how to report it, visit the ACCCE website. You can also make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers via its website or 1800 333 000.

Support services, such as Headspace, are available for victims of sadistic online exploitation.