Fury and Void: Legal Pathways to Counter 764

In June 2025, a young man was arrested in Germany after an alert from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding an alleged perpetrator affiliated with the international network 764 — a group operating at the destructive nexus of violent extremism, child sexual exploitation and other extreme violence often targeting vulnerable youth online. ​The case is noteworthy not only for the magnitude of victims, their young ages, and the severity of violence, but also for the network’s transnational reach.  Europol and several law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including the National Coordinator for Counterterrorisism and Security (NCTV) in the Netherlands, have been warning about the growing threat posed by such online violent extremists, who manipulate, coerce and exploit minors via encrypted platforms and messaging services. This policy brief explores legal pathways of countering the 764 network through four sections (1) an overview of 764’s ideology, recruitment and violent exploitative practices; (2) examination investigations and prosecutions, and some of the law enforcement and prosecutorial hurdles and approached taken; (3) analysis of the nature of online content; and (4) a discussion of the legal and policy considerations for designating the network. The brief concludes with actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing criminal justice responses — including counter-terrorism measures — to disrupt, investigate and prosecute the crimes linked to this network.

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