EUROPOL'S Project Compass has resulted in 30 arrests targeting 'The Com', a cybercrime network exploiting children and teenagers online. The operation, conducted over a year across 28 countries, identified 62 victims and helped protect four children from harm. The Com network primarily consists of young, English-speaking cybercriminals aged 16 to 25, involved in various attacks, including hacking and coercion related to self-harm.
Key achievements of Project Compass include:
- Safeguarding four victims
- Identifying or partially identifying 62 victims
- Identifying 179 suspects
- Conducting nine joint awareness initiatives
Anna Sjöberg, Head of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing these cyber threats.