30 Alleged Members of 'The Com' Arrested in Project Compass

Dark Reading

by Rob Wright

March 2, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Global law enforcement agencies have made significant strides in combating The Com, a notorious cybercriminal collective known for targeting minors through radicalization and exploitation. Europol's Project Compass, an international operation launched in January 2025, has resulted in the arrest of 30 alleged members of The Com and the identification of nearly 180 others across 28 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and EU member states. This collaborative effort aims to disrupt the group's decentralized network, which operates primarily through social media, gaming platforms, and online communities to recruit and radicalize young individuals. The Com, also referred to as "The Community," is a loosely organized collective of English-speaking cybercriminals aged 13 to 25. These members engage in various malicious activities, including data breaches, ransomware attacks, physical damage to property, terrorism, and sextortion. Notably, sub-groups like 764 are notorious for targeting minors, coercing them into violent acts and producing explicit content for blackmail purposes. Europol highlights that these networks exploit digital spaces where young people feel most at ease, making early intervention critical to safeguarding victims. Project Compass, led by Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre, focuses on addressing terrorism and violent extremism while protecting minors from exploitation. The operation emphasizes disrupting recruitment and radicalization tactics used by The Com. While details about specific arrests, charges, or sub-groups involved are limited, the initiative underscores the global collaboration needed to combat such threats effectively. The significance of this crackdown lies in its potential to dismantle a network that has posed a persistent threat to cybersecurity and vulnerable populations. By targeting both online and offline activities, Project Compass aims to disrupt The Com's ability to recruit, radicalize, and exploit individuals, particularly minors. This operation highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing transnational cyber threats and protecting young people from extremism and exploitation.

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Originally published on Dark Reading on 3/2/2026