A loosely connected online network known as The Com is drawing increasing concern from law-enforcement agencies and child-safety experts over allegations that young people are being manipulated, exploited and drawn into criminal activity.
The FBI describes The Com, short for “The Community”, as an international, primarily English-speaking online ecosystem made up of several interconnected groups. Its members, many of whom are minors, have been linked by investigators to cybercrime, extortion, swatting, violence and the sexual exploitation of children.
According to the FBI, people associated with the network can range from around 11 to 25 years old. Young and impressionable users may be approached through social media, gaming platforms and other online communities before being encouraged to become more deeply involved.
Australian authorities describe The Com as an umbrella network containing different groups involved in cybercrime, child exploitation and violent activities. One of the best-known groups associated with the wider ecosystem is 764, which has been linked to cases of sadistic online exploitation.
Child-safety experts say the abuse can begin with what appears to be friendship or acceptance. Perpetrators may build trust with vulnerable young people before using threats, blackmail or other forms of coercion to pressure them into increasingly harmful behaviour.
Investigators have also warned that some victims can eventually be drawn into offending themselves. The FBI says members of The Com have recruited young people to carry out criminal acts, while different subgroups may overlap in their activities and membership.
The problem has attracted international attention because online abuse can cross borders quickly. A recent Swedish court case involved an 18-year-old who was convicted of attempted murder, sexual offences and aggravated assault committed through online interactions with victims in Germany and Australia. Prosecutors described the case as part of the wider Com ecosystem.
Experts say the use of gaming platforms, social media and private messaging services can make it difficult for parents and authorities to identify abusive relationships early. Warning signs can include sudden isolation, secretive online activity and changes in behaviour, although such signs alone do not establish that a young person is involved with The Com.
Law-enforcement agencies are urging parents, schools and online platforms to take reports of online coercion seriously. They also stress that young people who have been manipulated or threatened should be treated as potential victims rather than automatically blamed for what they were pressured into doing.
The growing attention on The Com highlights the wider challenge of protecting children in online spaces where criminal networks can use anonymity, social connections and private communications to manipulate vulnerable users.