Children are being recruited as criminals at an 'industrial scale': Europol
Summary
Europol, the European Union’s police agency, reports that criminal gangs are recruiting children on a large scale to commit violent crimes. These gangs use online platforms and new technology, including artificial intelligence, to find and groom young people, sometimes as young as 13, to become criminals.Key Facts
- A 16-year-old boy named Rio was killed in Stockholm by another teen recruited by criminal gangs.
- Europol calls this trend “violence as a service,” where gangs hire young people to carry out crimes.
- Criminal groups use online spaces like gaming sites and messaging apps to find and lure children.
- The problem is happening widely across Western Europe and is starting to spread to the United States.
- Europol created the Grimm Task Force to fight the recruitment of young criminals.
- Nearly 300 arrests have been made across several European countries including Belgium, France, Germany, and Sweden.
- Law enforcement officials warn that online and AI technologies make it easier for gangs to recruit youth.
- Experts say this is a new form of organized crime that uses children both as offenders and victims.
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