RCMP Sgt. Danielle Pollock answers questions from reporters at a news conference at HRP headquarters with Dave Boon, superintendent of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division, and Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean on Oct. 28. Pollock described 764 as an online network ‘whose purpose is nothing more than to cause chaos amongst other youth.’ Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentThe alarming case of a 14-year-old Nova Scotia girl contacted by online predators through her school-issued Chromebook has sent shockwaves through families, schools and the wider public.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentWhat happened to this vulnerable student with severe ADHD is not necessarily an isolated incident. It very likely reveals a lapse in school system safeguards and exposes the horrible reality of sexploitation and violent extremist networks exploiting the learning technologies that have become ubiquitous in Nova Scotia classrooms.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentDigital predators, child protectionArticle contentToday’s hottest game for kids is Roblox, a video game with a child-friendly appearance that is not only alluring and addictive but a gateway to inappropriate content and a world frequented by adults who arrive as strangers and can turn out to be predators. It is part of an online ecosystem with dark corners, such as the 764 Community — a shadowy subgroup of the larger Com Network promoting violence and threatening teen lives.Article contentUnlike earlier digital threats, 764 operates on mainstream platforms, including Discord, Minecraft, Telegram, Twitch and Steam. These platforms are used daily by millions of young Canadians, often with parental permission. That accessibility, combined with online anonymity, makes this threat pervasive and difficult to detect.Article contentThe threat is not hypothetical. In October, a 16-year-old Halifax-area boy was charged with child pornography offences tied to 764. Police allege he coerced children into harming themselves or engaging in sexual activity on camera, mirroring the tactics used against the 14-year-old girl in the recent case.Article contentArticle contentMatt Kriner, executive director of the Institute for Countering Digital Extremism, describes groups like 764 as “very dangerous” and “persistent,” a judgment shaped by international work with police and counterterrorism agencies.Article contentWhat sets 764 apart is its ideological core. It draws inspiration from satanic neo-Nazi extremism, particularly the Order of Nine Angles movement. This is a co-ordinated network that glorifies violence, self-harm and degradation. Its members target vulnerable youth aged 8-18, coercing them into producing child sexual abuse material, engaging in self-harm, or participating in violent acts. The resulting recordings become tools of blackmail, trapping young victims in cycles of shame and dependency.Article contentNew child exploitation frontierArticle contentThe recent Nova Scotia Roblox incident reported by CBC demonstrates how predators have adapted to exploit educational technology. The girl’s mother discovered “very sexual” and self-harm-related material in her daughter’s school email. More disturbing, timestamps showed that conversations with outside adults occurred at home and during school hours, suggesting that school-based safeguards were not functioning as advertised.
Paul W. Bennett: How vulnerable are students on Chromebooks in schools?
