The Justice Department has issued a stark warning regarding the online extremist network known as "764," which is reportedly manipulating young individuals through social media to engage in self-harm and violent acts.
This alarming development was highlighted during a panel discussion at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, where Justice Department officials Justin Sher and James Donnelly, key figures in addressing the 764 threat, provided insights into the network's sinister operations.
According to Breitbart, the network's content is so dark that it surpasses the imagination of horror novelists. The followers of 764, many of whom are minors, specifically target underage females grappling with mental health challenges such as depression and eating disorders.
By establishing trust or romantic relationships, these predators manipulate their victims into self-mutilation, harming others, or participating in violent acts, all while broadcasting the content on social media for the network's amusement.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has reported over 2,000 instances of abuse linked to 764 or similar networks in the first nine months of 2025, a figure that has doubled from the previous year. The FBI is actively investigating more than 350 individuals across the United States with suspected connections to 764, and the Justice Department has charged at least 37 individuals in recent years. One notable case involves Cayden Newberry, a 19-year-old from Johnson City, Tennessee, who allegedly coerced a 13-year-old girl from New Jersey into self-harm and documented the act.
Sher elaborated on the network's ultimate goal, which is to destabilize society and the U.S. government, advocating for a Darwinian world where only the strongest survive. The Justice Department's National Security Division and the FBI are closely monitoring these networks due to their dangerous objectives.
Despite the challenges posed by current U.S. laws in prosecuting 764-related cases, federal prosecutors are employing innovative legal strategies, and some lawmakers are working to introduce new legislation targeting the specific behaviors of such extremist networks.
In a related development, Alexis Aldair Chavez, a 19-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a criminal enterprise and racketeering conspiracy through his involvement with 764. Chavez confessed to consuming violent content associated with 764, grooming young girls for extortion and self-mutilation, and serving as an administrator for various 764 online subsidiaries.
The Justice Department's efforts to combat the 764 network underscore the need for vigilance and proactive measures to protect vulnerable youth from such extremist influences. As the nation grapples with the implications of these online threats, the importance of safeguarding individual freedoms and maintaining societal stability remains paramount.
Login