In a troubling revelation, the new head of the Australian Federal Police has highlighted a disturbing trend involving young Australian girls being preyed upon online by sadistic young men. These offenders reportedly manipulate their victims as though they were participants in a video game.

Commissioner Krissy Barrett disclosed that these online criminal networks are exploiting, intimidating, and exerting control over girls who suffer from low self-esteem or mental health issues. The coercion leads these vulnerable individuals to inflict severe acts of violence on themselves, their siblings, others, and even pets.

Authorities have identified 59 individuals connected to this network within Australia, resulting in the arrest of three suspects aged between 17 and 20.

“These perpetrators are what we call ‘crimefluencers,’ driven by a desire for anarchy and a compulsion to harm others,” Barrett stated during her inaugural address at the National Press Club. She emphasized that the primary targets are pre-teen and teenage girls.

Barrett further explained that young men, predominantly from Western, English-speaking backgrounds, are engaging in what she described as a “twisted form of gamification.” In this sinister activity, victims are treated and traded as if they were mere characters in a virtual game.

“These groups have a similar culture to multiplayer online gaming culture, and they hunt, stalk, and draw in victims from a range of online platforms,” she said.

“To be accepted into these networks, the perpetrators often must have to pass a test or undertake a task such as providing videos of the self-harm of others or other gory content.

“This is where mainly vulnerable girls are being victimised.

“In this new, twisted type of gamification, perpetrators reach a status or new level in their group when they provide more content, showing more extreme acts of depravity and sadism.

“And in some cases, perpetrators trade their victims with each other, just like an online game.

“Once traded, a new perpetrator can control their new victim.”

These offenders are believed to be motivated by their own amusement or to be popular online.

The criminal networks they are part of have no centralised hierarchy or single ideology and are attracted to violent extremism, nihilism, sadism, Nazism, and Satanism.

The AFP has set up Taskforce Pompilid to investigate and arrest these crimefluencers.

Federal police and Microsoft are developing a prototype AI tool that will interpret emojis and Gen Z and Alpha slang in encrypted messages and chat groups to identify sadistic online exploitation.

The AFP has also provided information to departments and state and territory police to help them navigate the new trend and is working with partners overseas, who have arrested another nine people.

“Internationally, information provided by the AFP has contributed to arrests for murder, inciting suicide, inciting harm online, violent sexual offences, possession of child abuse and child sexual abuse material, as well as cybercrime offences such as unauthorised access of data and attempted extortion of organisations,” Barrett said.

“A sub-group within the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group has also been established to target these groups.”

Barrett encouraged parents and guardians to be aware of the rising trend and speak with their children, letting them know that they can talk about uncomfortable online experiences with a safe adult.

“You can encourage safe conversations by talking regularly about online activities and apps, encouraging critical thinking, and reassuring kids that they won’t be punished for coming forward if they think they have done something wrong,” she said.

“You can look out for warning signs that include self-harm, changes in eating or sleeping habits, sudden withdrawal from friends, families or activities, use of extreme behaviour, extreme language or symbols, and rejection of previously held morals.”

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.