In the operation carried out in 22 provinces against the new generation criminal organization called "C31K", which has come to the fore with child abuse, blackmail, animal torture and massacre propaganda in Turkey, a total of 27 people, 19 of which were "children in the judicial process" out of 32 suspects, were detained.
It was reported that the suspects detained in the operation against the organization called "C31K", which means "31st Floor of Hell", within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, shared obscene images of babies and children on various social media platforms, shared insulting posts against national and moral values, and shared images of burning the Turkish flag, torturing and killing animals. It was also reported that the suspects exploited the losses of publicly known people due to current events that created social sensitivity, produced content aimed at creating fear and panic through visual, written and voice messages through violence, threats and blackmail, and spread these contents through online groups.
Closing it was not a solution
Some members of the organization, where an operation was carried out before in Turkey, were arrested for spreading obscene content involving children, deliberately killing animals, praising crime and criminals, and publicly inciting people to commit crimes. The main Telegram group, which was stated to have reached approximately 100 thousand members, was closed and access to the linked addresses was blocked. However, the latest operation showed that closing a group does not completely eliminate such structures, and members can reunite under different names and accounts.
Networks spanning the world
One of the international structures that is most similar to C31K in terms of its methods is "764", which emerged in the USA. This structure is shown as one of the most dangerous branches of a broader digital crime network called “The Com” or “The Community”. The network, whose traces can be found in many countries, especially in the USA, Canada, England, Germany, Greece and Brazil, especially targets children who have social problems and feel lonely.
Neo-Nazi channels
Another structure closely followed in the USA and Europe is "Terrorgram", which operates based on Telegram. In the network of white supremacist and Neo-Nazi channels, attackers who have committed massacres in the past are glorified as "heroes" and "saints". Content on how attacks can be carried out, possible targets and violent propaganda can be shared on “Terrorgram” channels. It is stated that the network directs people to carry out attacks alone and encourages them to gain fame in the digital community with their actions. It has been determined that Terrorgram, which is considered a terrorist organization by the USA and the UK, has administrators in Brazil, Croatia and South Africa.
'Lone wolf' attacks
Neo-Nazi structures such as Atomwaffen Division and The Base, established in the USA, are also among the violent networks organized on the internet. It is known that these groups have supporters and connections in countries such as Canada, England, Germany and Australia, as well as the USA. Members are recruited through closed messaging groups, paramilitary images, masks, skull symbols and armed propaganda videos are used. These groups, which advocate the overthrow of the social order through violence, can direct their members to individual attacks called "lone wolves".
They lead to crime
Perpetrators first establish friendship or emotional closeness with children. Then, they start blackmailing them with the private images and personal information they captured. There are cases where children are directed to harm themselves, torture animals, attack their relatives and commit suicide.
Women are targeted
Radical incel communities operating in many countries, especially in the USA, Canada and England, are among the digital structures where misogyny, the feeling of social exclusion and violent discourse are intertwined. In some radical groups gathered around the concept of "incel", which means "involuntarily celibate", women are targeted, violence against women is legitimized, and people who have committed attacks in the past are glorified.
What do the experts say? 'Secure internet is a must'
Forensic Information Technology Specialist Mustafa Sansar explained the precautions that can be taken to protect children from dangers in the digital environment as follows: "It is necessary to evaluate children according to their age groups. Parental control, safe internet services and age-appropriate control practices can be effective, especially for children under the age of 12-13. Children in this age group often do not have the technical knowledge to disable control systems. Mothers and fathers can easily enable safe internet options through internet service providers and limit which platforms and content their children can access.
