COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Federal investigators are warning about a growing online threat in South Carolina tied to the group known as 764, saying the danger is not gaming itself, but the people using those platforms to reach vulnerable kids.
Crime rings are appearing on live platforms in games and targeting young children, causing harm in an act that law enforcement and investigators say rivals domestic terrorism.
“I’ve got nieces, I’ve got nephews. I’m pretty sure my friends and family have sons and daughters. It is affecting the community very, very awfully. I want to show how to prevent it, be proactive instead of reactive,” said Desmond Davis, a gamer.
For Davis, the warning hits close to home. He has been gaming since he was a kid. But now, as an uncle, he says what children can be exposed to online feels very different.
Eric Larsen, with the FBI field office in Columbia, explained groups tied to nihilistic violent extremism are finding children in gaming chats, social media and private online spaces.
He says the concern is serious.
“Yeah, it’s really terrifying. What we’re seeing is, in addition to, you know, when we talk about self-harm, we’re talking about activities like cutting, biting, bruising, things that would look out of the ordinary but could be hidden,” Larsen said.
Larsen says the danger can begin with what looks like a normal online friendship before conversations move into private apps, where children can be pressured, threatened or blackmailed.
“The FBI started looking at this threat through the lens of domestic terrorism because of the overall stated goal of, you know, decentralization, of bringing down society,” Larsen said.
Investigators say prevention can start at home with parental controls, privacy settings and regular conversations about who children are talking to online.
“If it takes you 10 to 20 minutes to set up, it will prevent a lifetime of heartache and pain. Like 20 minutes versus lifetime. I’ll take the 20 minutes any day,” Davis said.
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