FBI Warns of '764' Terror Network Exploiting Children Online

The '764' Terror Network

• FBI is issuing a warning about a new domestic terrorist group called '764' that targets and exploits children online.
• The group coerces minors into acts of violence, self-harm, animal abuse, suicide, and sexual abuse, with the FBI prioritizing its dismantlement.

Scope and Criminal Activities

• Investigations into '764' are linked to over 300 cases nationwide, including the Antioch High School shooting, the Palm Springs fertility clinic bombing, an arson spree in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and college campus swattings.
• The network's reach is so extensive that it is being investigated for connections to recent ISIS arrests in Michigan and New Jersey.
• A 15-year-old founded the group in 2021, aiming to fill a void for young boys online, with both founders now arrested and one serving an 80-year sentence for child pornography charges.

Ideology and Global Reach

• '764' espouses a nihilistic philosophy, believing life has no point and the world should be stopped, which motivated the attack on the fertility clinic to destroy embryos.
• While founders are US-based, the group's recruitment occurs on global platforms like Discord, Telegram, and Roblox, suggesting a worldwide presence.

Parental Guidance and Online Safety

• Protecting children involves understanding how platforms like Discord and Telegram work, as access to their chat rooms typically requires an invitation.
• Roblox is considered easier to access but still poses risks, with a recommendation that it's more suitable for ages 15 and older.
• Parents are advised to monitor for behavioral changes and to inspect their children's online activity, including their Discord chats.
• One expert, a former FBI agent, chooses not to allow her 10-year-old internet access or Roblox, and defers social media until her child is older and better equipped to understand right from wrong.