This week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that it is investigating a troubling online community known as 764. This network is now well known for the sexual exploitation of minors and encouraging self-harm. Until recently, U.S. law enforcement treated this diffuse network as a secondary target. This includes a number of splinter groups with an international reach, as they go into communities and predate on the most vulnerable people among us.
So far, the FBI has issued four alerts warning the public about the risks presented by this group of 764. This inquiry has been at work since as far back as 2023. The network has gained a deservedly awful reputation for its coordinated sexual exploitation of minors and vulnerable persons. They use social media to groom these targets and then blackmail them to produce sexually explicit content. Survivor reports show that victims are made to do acts of self-harm or even harm pets.
In 2021, Discord’s identification of 764, as well as its hundreds of other users, triggered this notification to local law enforcement agencies. This move opened the door for a larger, more systemic investigation that has since grown. Right now, the FBI is investigating about 250 people connected with 764 and other social media networks that connect dozens of these online predators.
Recent arrests demonstrate just how serious the threat is. This past April, law enforcement arrested Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal. They are blamed for heading up a violent offshoot group known as 764 Inferno. This subgroup operates as a highly organized, global child exploitation enterprise, making it even more challenging to dismantle the larger network.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline just announced a 1,000% increase in calls to the tipline. This increase is largely attributed to organizations such as 764. In 2024, the center logged more than 1,300 reports. This net change denotes an incredible growth of over 200% from last year. This new trend further highlights the need for targeted and more vigilant monitoring of youth behavior online.
In 2023, this network’s former member Cadenhead was sentenced to 80 years in prison. His punishment was the natural consequence of his deep engagement in these horrible acts. His case underscores the extraordinary punishment that individuals face when they commit unsustainable predatory practices. It’s the perfect reminder that it’s important to think about how our rollouts affect everyone.
Advocates are quick to highlight the significant role law enforcement can play in tackling this issue. Kathryn Rifenbark stated, “It is really important that law enforcement is looking into the individuals that are perpetrating this abuse and seeing if they can have any successful investigations.” Meanwhile, Ben Halpert described the structure of the network as “loosely coordinated based on individuals of like mind,” adding that those involved “wish to cause harm to other humans, especially kids.”
We encourage parents and guardians to continue to be mindful of their kids’ online lives. Jessica S Tisch and Rebecca Weiner posed a critical question to parents: “Do you know what your kids are doing online? If not, the answer may terrify you.” Beyond just a warning, this call to awareness underscores the need for families to have frequent, open conversations about being safe on the internet.
The impact on victims can be profound. One expert noted, “Any victim that is part of this problem is looking at years of therapy.” Those ensnared in these webs pay an extraordinary mental health cost. This trauma is carried over time, impacting their lives well beyond their exploitation period.