- Events
The ‘Com Network’, an emerging violent and coercive online network, has raised growing concern among policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Operating across platforms and jurisdictions, this decentralized online ecosystem has been linked to a range of harms, including grooming, sextortion, cybercrime, violent assaults, self-harm promotion and the sharing of violent extremist content.
Co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Indonesia and Romania to the 91茄子, the European Union, UNICRI, the 91茄子 Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), VOX-Pol Institute, the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence (CPRLV), and the John Howard Society, this side event will examine the Com Network and the evolving phenomenon sometimes described as “nihilistic violent extremism” and explore its relevance for counter-terrorism, prevention and criminal justice responses.
The event will launch new research by UNICRI and VOX-Pol on manifestations of these networks in Brazil, Indonesia, Iraq and Romania, highlighting their global reach beyond English-language contexts. Discussions will also introduce the CPRLV Hexagon tool, a practical framework that supports interdisciplinary prevention and intervention efforts.
By fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange, the event aims to strengthen understanding of how violent online ecosystems recruit, radicalize and mobilize individuals to violence, while identifying practical approaches for prevention and safeguarding.
This event is organized on the margins of the 2026 Counter-Terrorism week (CT Week). For more information visit: www.un.org/counterterrorism/en/2026-counter-terrorism-week
