Extremism and online child sexual abuse: a commentary

Recent law enforcement investigations and media reports highlight the rise of ‘Com networks’: loosely organised online communities that intertwine child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sextortion, coercion, animal cruelty, self-harm, extremist rhetoric, and violent misogyny. These groups illustrate a troubling hybridisation of harms, blurring distinctions between sexual offending and extremist violence. While CSAM offending has traditionally been viewed as evidence of sexual motivation or paedophilic interest, within Com networks it often functions as coercion, a marker of transgression, and a signal of belonging in communities organised around cruelty and grievance. Drawing on plenary discussions at the 2025 NOTA International Conference, this commentary integrates insights from research, law enforcement, and clinical practice. It argues that Com networks should be understood both as a novel digital phenomenon and as part of a longer continuum in which violence, extremism, and sexual abuse converge. Finally, it outlines key research and practice priorities for prevention and intervention.