Halifax Youth Charged with Child Pornography for Membership in Violent Online Group
A Halifax youth has been arrested and charged with child pornography offenses for active membership in '764,' a violent extremist subgroup of the Com Network. The investigation, led by the HRP/RCMP Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Unit, highlights how these groups operate on common social media and gaming apps to manipulate victims into recording self-harm and violence.
In May 2025, a Halifax youth was arrested and charged with several child pornography offenses related to their active membership in an online violent extremist group known as "764." The investigation was conducted by the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated Internet Child Exploitation Unit.
The identity of the accused youth is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Authorities identified "764" as a subgroup of the broader "Com Network," describing both entities as virtual communities that glorify serious violence and cruelty.
Unlike criminal organizations that might hide on the dark web, these groups operate globally through the chat features of common online social media and gaming applications. They target children, youth, and vulnerable adults, manipulating them into recording, sharing, or live-streaming intimate images, acts of self-harm, violence against others, sexual activity, child pornography, and animal cruelty.
According to investigators, videos produced by victims are often used by predators as blackmail to maintain control over them. As victims gain notoriety within these networks for completing such acts, they frequently transition from being exploited to becoming predators themselves.
At this stage of the investigation, no local victims have been identified. However, authorities urge parents to monitor their children's online activity closely due to the potential risk posed by international predatory networks operating on mainstream platforms.
Members of the public with information regarding similar activities are encouraged to contact the police at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), referencing case number 25-86822.