Intelligence Analyst Supervisor Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The threat posed by Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE) is globally attracting the attention of governments and law enforcement agencies. IMVE groups are targeting vulnerable youth with threats and (s)extortion tactics to livestream/provide recordings of the minor victim engaging in sexually explicit acts, self mutilation, committing suicide or murder, and/or harming or killing animals. Targeted minors are often between the ages of 8 and 17 years, particularly LGBTQ+ youth, and those more vulnerable due to mental health concerns - depression, suicidal ideation, and/or eating disorders. Group members employ grooming tactics similar to those used in sextortion and fear tactics such as threatening to SWAT, DOX, share sexually explicit abuse videos or photos of the minor victims with their family/ friends, and/or post to the internet, unless the victim provides recordings or live-streaming of self harm (cutting, stabbing or “fansigning”), harming/killing of animals, and/or suicide. This workshop will cover offender profiles, who these extremist groups are, tactics and platforms used by offenders and also, how law enforcement is adapting to a crime which crosses national security and child exploitation mandates.
Learning Objectives:
Develop an understanding of the threat posed by IMVE groups to vulnerable children
Develop an understanding of the motivations and tactics used by IMVE groups and how this crime intersects with child sexual exploitation
Demonstrate how the RCMP has had to adapt and develop a process to address a crime that crosses national security and child exploitation mandates
