The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have warned that young girls are being targeted by online crime networks, coerced into committing violent acts against themselves, siblings, or pets. This troubling situation has been described as a 'twisted type of gamification' by police authorities.
A new taskforce has been established to tackle this 'modern front of traditional gender-based violence,' according to AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett. Notably, three individuals have already been arrested in Australia, with further arrests made globally.
The nature of the violent acts varies, with the perpetrators holding extreme views that lead them to inflict harm for entertainment. These individuals, often in their late teens or twenties, utilize platforms like Roblox and messaging apps such as Discord to recruit preteen or teenage girls.
Barrett explained that these so-called 'crimefluencers' draw from ideologies such as nihilism and sadism, primarily targeting girls suffering from low self-esteem or mental health issues. Their motivations are not financial or sexual, but rather for amusement and online popularity, echoing a multiplayer gaming culture.
With nearly 60 suspected offenders identified within Australia, the AFP collaborates with allies from the Five Eyes nations—US, UK, New Zealand, and Canada—to address these networks. Technology firms are also involved in developing AI tools to detect coded language used in discussions of sadistic behaviors in encrypted communications.
This pressing issue comes as Australia prepares to implement a social media ban for children under 16, though gaming and messaging platforms remain exempt, raising concerns about the effectiveness of such measures.
Experts believe it is essential to integrate community-based solutions and include Indigenous perspectives to safeguard vulnerable youth in the digital landscape.
