In Australia, law-enforcement officials say that online crime networks are increasingly “hunting, stalking and drawing in” young girls and coercing them into committing violent acts for the amusement of network members. The phenomenon was detailed in a major address by Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett, who said these networks represent a disturbing and emerging front in gender-based violence and digital exploitation. BBC Feeds+29News+2
What’s Going On
- The networks target pre-teen and teenage girls, especially those who are vulnerable because of low self-esteem, mental-health issues, or a history of self-harm. 9News+1
- The perpetrators are typically young men aged between 17-20, from Western English-speaking backgrounds, who use gaming platforms (e.g., Roblox), messaging apps (e.g., Telegram) or encrypted chat groups to recruit and control victims. BBC Feeds+1
- The crimes aren’t about money or sexual exploitation in the traditional sense. Rather, they’re about voyeuristic power, status and “gamified” sadism: victims are coerced to carry out violent or self-harm acts (on themselves, siblings, pets) and video/share them, then perpetrators “level up” by committing or distributing more extreme content. 9News+1
Official Response
- The AFP has created a specialist unit called Taskforce Pompilid to investigate and dismantle these decentralised networks. afp.gov.au+1
- So far the agency reports 59 alleged offenders identified in Australia—three arrested domestically and nine internationally. BBC Feeds+1
- The AFP warns that these networks reflect a broader shift in crime: “online games culture” becoming twisted into real-world violent exploitation. Commissioner Barrett described it as: “These groups have a similar culture to multiplayer online gaming culture … they hunt, stalk and draw in victims … once traded, a new perpetrator can control their new victim.” 9News
- The AFP is also collaborating with tech companies like Microsoft to build AI tools capable of decoding Gen Z/Alpha slang and emojis used in encrypted chats, to better detect and prevent harm. The Guardian+1
Why This Matters
- This is a form of exploitation that doesn’t fit neatly into traditional categories (trafficking, sexual assault, cyber-bullying). It involves coercion, violence, manipulation and digital group dynamics.
- Vulnerability is heightened because victims may not recognise what is happening, may feel isolated, or may already be going through mental-health challenges.
- The fact that perpetrators are not primarily motivated by profit or sexuality but by online status and sadism complicates detection and response—it is partly an “amusement” crime with layers of extremism.
- Because the networks are decentralised, encrypted and globally connected, enforcement becomes more complex: cross-border cooperation, technology tools, and prevention efforts are key.
- It signals broader risks around how online culture, gaming, social media and anonymity combine to produce new forms of harm among youth.
What to Watch & Protective Measures
- Parents, educators and guardians should monitor or be aware of signs such as sudden secretive online behaviour, use of new apps or devices, changes in mental health/habits, unknown contacts, or being asked to film or do unusual tasks.
- Online platforms and tech companies must be part of the solution: customizable monitoring tools, reporting mechanisms, AI detection, and cooperation with law enforcement.
- Government and law-enforcement agencies will likely push for stronger laws and regulation around youth exploitation, online grooming, encryption and platform accountability.
- The public should watch for whether the AFP’s taskforce achieves arrests, prosecutions and how the legal system adapts to this novel category of crime.
- International cooperation via the “Five Eyes” law-enforcement community (Australia, U.S., U.K., Canada, New Zealand) will be pivotal given the cross-border nature of the networks. BBC Feeds
Outlook
While still early days in terms of public awareness and legal precedent, the AFP’s alert shines a spotlight on a chilling adaptation of online deviance into real-world harm. As Commissioner Barrett said, the crimes are “now spilling into the real world and have real-world consequences.” The Queenslander
If Australia successfully intervenes, disrupts these networks and supports victims, it may set a model for other jurisdictions. However, the pace of technological change, anonymity tools, encrypted platforms and dark-web phenomena mean this will likely be a long-term challenge.