Greeks are among the individuals against whom the U.S. authorities have brought prosecutions for the decentralized network of sadistic exploitation of minors “764”.
In organized crime, the arrest of top executives and the seizure of the funds used to “grease the wheels” of the criminal rings usually neutralize these organizations. The same does not apply to decentralized networks such as “764,” in which members carry out acts that are particularly dangerous to society as a whole without central orders, making the network resemble the “Lernaean Hydra.”
Arrests in Greece for the shadowy “764” network
Just last Saturday, two 17-year-old Greek nationals were arrested in Thessaloniki as part of a coordinated operation, after charges of child pornography had been filed against them. Their identification was made possible through a thorough digital analysis of data as well as the exchange of information with the NCMEC and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
The two young men, through accounts they managed on social media platforms, allegedly threatened and blackmailed underage girls, extracting pornographic material depicting them. At the same time, according to the relevant announcement, they encouraged the underage victims to engage in acts of self-harm, including carving into their bodies the names or nicknames they used on the accounts through which they operated.
Last October, a 21-year-old Greek-American was taken into custody in connection with the same case. He had been arrested in April 2025 under a warrant issued by U.S. authorities, but because of his Greek heritage, the warrant had not been extradited to the U.S.
U.S. authorities warn parents about “764”
This decentralized network has been a top priority for U.S. authorities for several months now, even at the federal level. In February, an individual believed to be a member of “764” was arrested on charges of child pornography, while federal investigators found suspicious visual material on his devices. Later that same month, the House Oversight Committee launched an investigation into the matter and asked the FBI to provide an update on the steps it has taken to combat it.
So in May, the FBI and the New York Police Department (NYPD) publicly warned parents about “764,” describing it as part of a broader ecosystem of “nihilistic violent extremism” that exploits children online. By the end of 2025, the FBI was already investigating more than 350 individuals linked to the network.
“Although the names of these networks are constantly changing, their activities remain the same: they seek to coerce and manipulate underage victims into harming themselves, animals, and other minors. They may even encourage victims to attempt suicide,” says an FBI agent in a related video addressed to parents.
The briefing also notes that these individuals “are active on social media, gaming apps, and other online platforms.” “They gain their victims’ trust and then coerce them into sharing personal information as well as photos and videos with explicit content, which are then used to blackmail their victims into creating additional content depicting escalating sexual and violent behavior. These individuals may further coerce their victims using tactics such as “swatting” (making a false emergency call to law enforcement), “doxing” (blackmail through the disclosure of personal information), and vandalism.”
The “764” network operates primarily on Discord and Telegram and, to some extent, on the gaming platforms Roblox and Minecraft, according to Wired. It is also active on various forums.
It systematically targets underage girls, but according to the FBI, anyone could be a target—minors, adults, men, and women. Victims are usually between the ages of 10 and 17, but victims as young as 9 have also been identified.
A bullying victim created the darkest child exploitation network
It is worth noting that “764” was founded in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Bradley Kadenhead. A victim of bullying himself, Kadenhead dropped out of school at age 15 and was introduced to techniques of remote exploitation of minors and sexual blackmail.
He then founded “764,” inspired by the first digits of the ZIP code of his hometown, Stephenville, Texas.
In 2023, Kadenhead was sentenced to 80 years in prison after being found guilty of crimes related to the “764” network. “>https:=”” www.iefimerida.gr=”” kosm…
