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Europol has launched a coordinated operation aimed at removing terrorist and hate-fueled material from gaming platforms, highlighting the growing threat of extremism in this new frontier for counter-terrorism efforts. The operation is part of a larger "Referral Action Day" that involves multiple partner countries and marks the Internet Referral Unit's most explicit foray into the world of gaming platforms.
Europol launches coordinated operation to remove terrorist and hate-fueled material from gaming platforms.The operation, part of "Referral Action Day," targeted over 100 gaming platforms and removed extremist content.Europol identified over 5,408 links to jihadist content, 1,070 pushing violent right-wing extremist or terrorist propaganda.Extremists use gaming platforms to recruit minors into violent extremist groups and disseminate ideologies.Europol's Internet Referral Unit reviews content across over 100 platforms each year and removes extremist material.
In a significant escalation of its efforts to combat extremist content online, Europol has recently launched a coordinated operation aimed at storming gaming platforms and removing terrorist and hate-fueled material from these spaces. The operation, which took place on November 13, was part of a larger "Referral Action Day" that involved multiple partner countries and marked the Internet Referral Unit's (IRU) most explicit foray into the world of gaming platforms.
According to Europol, the IRU has been reviewing content across over a hundred platforms each year and assessed more than 16,000 individual items in 2023 alone. This recent operation was the latest example of how extremist groups are adapting their distribution channels to evade detection by law enforcement agencies. By targeting gaming platforms, which have become increasingly popular among young people, Europol is trying to tap into a new frontier for counter-terrorism efforts.
The sweep has already yielded significant results, with Europol reporting that it identified over 5,408 links to jihadist content, 1,070 pushing violent right-wing extremist or terrorist propaganda, and 105 tied to racist or xenophobic groups. These extremist materials were found on various gaming platforms, including in-game chat and voice comms, livestreams, and modding communities.
Experts warn that extremists are using these platforms to recruit minors into violent extremist and terrorist groups, as well as to disseminate their ideologies through social media channels. For example, perpetrators have been known to re-enact terrorist attacks or school shootings in 3D gameplay, edit the video with chants or suggestive emojis, and then share it on various social media platforms for wider reach.
The EU's Radicalisation Awareness Network has also warned that extremist groups are employing grooming tactics inside these gaming communities to court young players. By infiltrating these spaces, extremists can gain the trust of vulnerable individuals and use them as unwitting propaganda machines to spread their ideology.
Europol's Internet Referral Unit is a specialized unit within Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre that was created in 2015 after EU ministers ordered a dedicated unit to identify and report publicly available terrorist content online. Since its inception, the IRU has expanded its remit to cover not only jihadist material but also violent right-wing extremism and migrant-smuggling-related content.
The shift towards targeting gaming platforms marks a significant shift in how extremist groups are using technology to spread their ideology. As experts warn that these platforms have become increasingly popular among young people, it is essential that law enforcement agencies develop new strategies to combat this threat. By working closely with platform operators and governments, Europol hopes to create a safer online environment for gamers and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by extremist groups.
The fact that Europol's Internet Referral Unit has been reviewing content across over a hundred platforms each year is a testament to its commitment to monitoring and removing terrorist content from the internet. However, it highlights the complexity and scale of this challenge. The sheer number of online platforms and services makes it essential that law enforcement agencies collaborate with platform operators and governments to develop effective strategies for combating extremist content.
In conclusion, Europol's recent operation to storm gaming platforms and remove terrorist and hate-fueled material from these spaces marks an important step forward in the fight against extremism. By targeting these platforms and working closely with platform operators and governments, Europol is helping to create a safer online environment for gamers and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by extremist groups.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Europols-Gaming-Platform-Extremist-Content-Sweep-A-New-Frontier-for-Counter-Terrorism-Efforts-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/11/17/game_over_europol_storms_gaming/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/game-over-europol-storms-gaming-platforms-in-extremist-content-sweep/ar-AA1QBui9
https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/17/game_over_europol_storms_gaming/
Published: Mon Nov 17 10:42:10 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
