Canada's Digital Shield: New Terror Listings Target Online Radicalization

OTTAWA, ON – December 10, 2025 – In a decisive move to safeguard communities against evolving threats, the Government of Canada has added four new organizations to its official list of terrorist entities. The action targets the alarming rise of online radicalization preying on young people and confronts the persistent danger of global extremist insurgencies, underscoring a proactive strategy to protect Canadians both at home and abroad.

The newly listed groups include three transnational, ideologically motivated violent extremist (IMVE) networks—764, Maniac Murder Cult, and the Terrorgram Collective—and an affiliate of the Islamic State, Islamic State-Mozambique (IS-M). This designation equips Canada’s security and law enforcement agencies with enhanced legal powers to disrupt their activities, freeze their assets, and prevent their members from entering the country.

The New Digital Frontline: Protecting Youth from Online Predators

For many parents and educators, the most chilling aspect of modern extremism is its quiet infiltration into the digital spaces frequented by children and teenagers. The listing of 764, Maniac Murder Cult (MMC), and the Terrorgram Collective is a direct response to this insidious trend. These are not traditional, centrally organized groups; they are decentralized, online networks that thrive in the shadows of social media, encrypted chat apps like Telegram, and popular gaming platforms.

Their methods are predatory and sophisticated. Groups like 764, a nihilistic network with roots in the United States, have been shown to specifically target and groom vulnerable youth. They often lure minors into private online communities by feigning support for issues like low self-esteem or eating disorders, only to desensitize them to extreme violence and coerce them into acts of self-harm, sexual exploitation, and even violence against others. The group’s ideology is a dark blend of misanthropy and nihilism, viewing violence as a form of entertainment and a means to erode societal norms.

Recent cases highlight the tangible threat on Canadian soil. Earlier this year, a 14-year-old from Alberta was charged with explosives and child pornography offenses linked to 764. In Halifax, an 18-year-old faced similar charges. These incidents are not isolated; the FBI has over 250 open cases tied to the network. By becoming the first country in the world to officially list 764 as a terrorist entity, Canada is taking a leadership position in confronting this disturbing new form of extremism head-on.

Similarly, the Maniac Murder Cult, a neo-Nazi group originating in Russia and Ukraine, uses a violent, accelerationist ideology to recruit globally. It has been linked to a disturbing case in Winnipeg, where a 19-year-old was charged with terrorism-related offenses. The group demands that prospective members commit and film violent attacks to gain entry, promoting a culture of extreme brutality to hasten what they believe is the inevitable collapse of Western society.

From Digital Hate to Global Insurgency

While the IMVE networks represent a modern, digital-first threat, the inclusion of Islamic State-Mozambique (IS-M) on the list demonstrates that more conventional, territorial insurgencies remain a grave concern for global security. An official branch of ISIS, IS-M has been waging a brutal campaign in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province since 2017.

Seeking to establish a Sharia-based caliphate, the group has targeted civilians, security forces, and even foreign aid workers. Their insurgency has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, with reports indicating over 6,500 people killed and more than 1.3 million displaced. IS-M attacks are characterized by extreme violence, including beheadings and the burning of entire villages, churches, and schools. By listing IS-M, Canada aligns itself with international partners in seeking to cut off the financial and logistical support that allows such groups to terrorize local populations and destabilize entire regions.

The simultaneous listing of these disparate groups illustrates a comprehensive, two-pronged security strategy: one that actively polices the digital borderlands where youth are most vulnerable, while also contributing to the global fight against established terrorist organizations.

The Power of the List: Creating Tangible Safeguards

The designation as a “terrorist group” under Canada’s Criminal Code is more than a symbolic condemnation. It triggers a cascade of legal and financial mechanisms designed to cripple an organization's ability to operate. Any assets owned by these four groups in Canada must now be frozen and reported to CSIS or the RCMP. It is now a serious criminal offense for any person in Canada, or any Canadian abroad, to knowingly provide financial services or deal with property that benefits these entities.

This has a profound chilling effect on their support networks. It makes it significantly harder for them to raise funds, spread propaganda, and recruit members within Canada. Furthermore, the listing provides immigration and border officials with clear grounds to deny entry to individuals associated with these groups, strengthening the nation's physical defenses.

In announcing the measures, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree emphasized the critical need to act. "The threat posed by ideologically motivated violent extremism, whether it is in the real world or online, is extremely serious," he stated. "The groups we have just listed prey upon people who are at-risk, especially our youth, and they must be stopped. By listing these groups, we have more powerful and effective tools to take action and thwart their efforts to incite violence and promote hate."

This proactive approach, particularly the pioneering designation of 764, signals a crucial shift in how democratic nations are beginning to confront threats that are born and bred online. While debates around the balance of security powers and civil liberties are a vital part of the process, these actions represent a tangible effort to build a more resilient and secure future by directly confronting the networks that seek to sow chaos and harm the most vulnerable members of our communities.