James Comer is Chairman of the House Oversight Committee. | https://oversight.house.gov/chairman-james-comer/
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins have begun an inquiry into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s ability to track and arrest members of the online network known as “764.” The lawmakers sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting a staff-level briefing about ongoing investigations and apprehensions related to this group.
According to Comer and Higgins, "Reporting indicates the FBI has opened more than 250 investigations tied to the group, which preys on children and teenagers on popular online platforms, including Roblox, and coerces victims into acts of self-harm, production of child sexual abuse material, harm to animals, and even suicide."
The 764 network was established in 2021. It operates as a large, decentralized criminal group primarily targeting children through computer games and other internet platforms. Despite several arrests in recent years, thousands of members are believed to remain active globally. These individuals reportedly use threats, blackmail, and manipulation to force victims into violent acts that are recorded and shared within the network for further extortion.
Comer and Higgins stated: "The disturbing tactics attributed to this network—grooming, manipulating, and blackmailing of minors—underscore a serious and continuously evolving threat to children and families across the United States. These harms demand rigorous oversight and an evaluation of whether existing federal countermeasures are effective and adequately resourced to combat these elusive online perpetrators."
A copy of the letter addressed to FBI Director Patel is available for public review.
