Europol's Chief, Catherine De Bolle, draws attention to the recruitment of children through video games: "They turn children into tools for torture or killing. It's no longer about petty thefts. It's about assassinations."

Catherine De Bolle, head of Europol, stated that organized crime groups are turning children into hired criminals, recruiting them through multiplayer video games. This phenomenon poses a major threat to European society, with children being used for torture and murder. The recruitment process begins with seemingly harmless discussions but quickly turns into manipulation, with criminals threatening children with violence against their families.

Europol has documented 105 cases of minors involved in violent acts, including 10 contract killings. Catherine De Bolle emphasizes that some children are also drawn into espionage operations for hostile states. Parents, often unaware, need to discuss the dangers of the internet with their children. Additionally, De Bolle calls for Europol's access to encrypted online messages to combat these criminal networks.