The 764 network, founded by Bradley Cadenhead, a Texas teenager now serving an 80-year sentence, is part of a shadowy online ecosystem that extorts children into committing violence and self-harm. Victims and perpetrators span dozens of countries.
Stockholm Stabbing and Global Reach
In late 2024, a 14-year-old boy in Stockholm stabbed an 80-year-old man three times in the back, streaming the attack online. The boy allegedly had links to 764, which targets young people on platforms like Roblox and Minecraft, as well as those struggling with mental health or sexual identity.
Bjørn Ihler, founder of security firm Revontulet, says, “These are young people recruiting other young people. It is a youth phenomenon.” The Australian federal police commissioner Krissy Barrett noted a worrying trend: victims becoming perpetrators to escape their online bullies.
Chai: A High-Status Member on Trial
In early 2025, an Australian girl alerted Swedish police about a user named “Chai.” Linus Svensson, an SVT reporter, found at least nine local court cases related to “the Com,” a broader network including 764. Chai, a Swedish teenager whose name cannot be published, is on trial for over 70 alleged offences, including encouraging self-harm and suicide, and creating child sexual abuse material. The trial paused in June 2025 for a forensic psychiatric investigation, with compelling evidence of multiple charges.
Prosecutor Jenny Östling says the case tests responsibility for remotely coercing self-harm. She alleges Chai was “high status” within 764, invited to “764 Inferno” chatroom. His lawyer, Emily Töyrä, disputes this, saying involvement was limited to editing images and videos.
Global Arrests and Legal Cases
An April 2025 US indictment alleges Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal used “764 Inferno” to conspire in child exploitation. Researchers found at least 295 arrests linked to the Com network in 33 countries. In New Zealand, Ronndog Keefe pleaded guilty in 2025 to 13 charges, sentenced to over five years. In the UK, Cameron Finnigan, then 19, received a nine-year extended sentence for possessing a “kill guide” and indecent images. Another British teen, Elijah Palmer, was sentenced for encouraging serious self-harm, targeting victims on Roblox and Discord.
Gamification of Harm and Warning Signs
The FBI uses “nihilistic violent extremism,” but researchers like Marc-André Argentino note ideology is fluid. Ihler adds “misanthropic,” emphasizing that sharing sextortion material increases “clout” as social currency. Warning signs include self-harm, withdrawal, and secretive online behavior. “It could honestly happen to anyone,” says researcher Becca Spinks, who tracks these groups. She urges greater awareness for parents and law enforcement.
