Europol and partner countries combat online radicalisation on gaming platforms

Europol supported eight countries in identifying and removing racist and xenophobic propaganda shared on gaming and gaming-related platforms. The Referral Action Day, involving Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, led to the referral of thousands of URLs leading to dangerous and illicit online material.

Conducted on 13 November 2025, this operational action by the European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) involved the referral of thousands of URLs leading to dangerous and illicit online material. This includes around 5 408 links to jihadist content, 1 070 links to violent right-wing extremist and terrorist content, and 105 links to racist and xenophobic content.

This joint action highlights the complexity of tackling terrorist, racist and xenophobic content online on gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms. Creation and dissemination processes are layered and often affect several platforms. For instance, content may be recorded within an online game (or its chat function), altered with violent extremist jargon, suggestive emojis, chants, or music, and then disseminated on a mainstream social media platform.

‘Gamification’ of highly dangerous content across platforms

In the weeks leading up to the action day, participating experts combed through a variety of platforms widely used by youngsters and adults alike. Users of such gaming and streaming platforms can encounter a variety of dangerous and violent content.

For example, perpetrators re-enact terrorist attacks, school shootings, or execution scenes in 3D gameplay, edit the video with chants or suggestive emojis, and disseminate it on various commonly used social media platforms for even wider reach. Other gaming-related platforms intended for streaming gameplay are misused to recruit minors into various violent extremist and terrorist groups or to livestream real attacks and even suicides.

The content targeted during the Referral Action Day was found across several kinds of platforms. Some allow players to broadcast their gameplay in real-time and interact with their community via live chat, while others host video-on-demand. Illicit content was also identified on community platforms intended to facilitate the exchange of tips, news, and discussions about video games. Lastly, there are hybrid or specialised platforms that combine streaming, community features, and gaming purchase options. Many accounts on these platforms may not immediately be recognisable as being linked to problematic content, while some even feature usernames and profile pictures with references to infamous terrorists.

Publication of EU IRU Transparency Report

The EU Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) prevention activities are focused on three key areas: monitoring and analysis of terrorist content online, referrals, and public-private partnerships. The forthcoming Transparency Report highlights the activities undertaken in these areas in 2024 and summarises the Unit’s efforts to reduce public access to terrorist content online. Additionally, the report outlines the EU IRU’s activities in support of the implementation of the Regulation on addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online.

Several investigations as a starting point

This Referral Action Day stems from law enforcement authorities across Europe noticing a variety of gaming and gaming-adjacent platforms being misused as venues to radicalise and spread terrorist content online. This abuse is also reflected in several investigations supported by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre. Leading up to this action day, Europol’s experts organised several operational meetings, and facilitated the exchange of operational information and best practices among participating countries.

More information: Europol