Parents Issued Chilling Warning Over 'Disgusting' Online Networks
The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), established by the family of schoolgirl Molly Russell, has issued a stark warning about a "chilling and urgent threat" to young people that extends far beyond traditional social media platforms. This grim alert comes as a new report exposes complex networks of online harm operating on gaming platforms, livestreams, and chat rooms.
The Disturbing Reality of Com Networks
According to the MRF, Com networks represent a global online ecosystem associated with extreme forms of cyberbullying, exploitation, violence, crime, and abuse. These networks often target vulnerable youngsters for sexual abuse while simultaneously urging them into offline violence and self-harm. Alarmingly, they also coerce victims into committing acts against others, including the encouragement of suicide.
One particularly harrowing example detailed in Resolver's report involves a teenage girl who was groomed into sending child sexual abuse material within a "Sadism Com chat room". Subsequently, she was encouraged to use racist slurs and groom other victims into suicide and self-harm, illustrating the cyclical nature of this abuse.
Government and Law Enforcement Response
The MRF is urgently calling on the Government to strengthen and expand the Online Safety Act to address these disturbing new threats. Andy Burrows, chief executive of MRF, emphasized: "The growing threat posed by Com networks is the most chilling and urgent threats to children online today and it requires a swift and comprehensive response."
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency and FBI, have voiced serious concerns about the risks these networks pose to children. NCA Deputy Director Helen Rance noted: "The NCA warned last year that we are seeing a significant rise in teenage boys joining online communities that only exist to engage in criminality and cause harm."
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, who recently attended a roundtable on Resolver's report, stated: "No society that calls itself civilised can continue to tolerate an online world where children are tortured, exploited and coerced into unthinkable harm."
Background and Broader Context
The Molly Rose Foundation was established following the tragic death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who took her own life after being bombarded with harmful content on social media. Interestingly, Molly's father Ian Russell has emerged as a fierce opponent of social media bans for under-16s, fearing that blanket restrictions could push youngsters into darker online spaces while failing to hold technology firms accountable.
The Government is currently consulting on a package of measures designed to enhance online safety for children, which includes:
- Potential social media bans for individuals under 16
- Restrictions on addictive applications
- Implementation of curfews for certain online activities
Meanwhile, the Home Office funds an undercover network of online officers that last year helped safeguard 1,748 children from child sexual abuse and led to the arrest of 1,797 perpetrators.
The MRF's partnership with safety organisation Resolver has brought these disturbing networks to light, revealing how they operate across international borders through multiple online channels including messaging apps, forums, and gaming platforms. The foundation stresses that current regulatory designs are poorly suited to address the sophisticated threats posed by these Com groups, necessitating immediate and coordinated action from government, law enforcement, regulators, and technology platforms alike.
