Crackdown on Gaming Radicalisation

Europol, in collaboration with eight European countries, has successfully undertaken a significant operation aimed at curbing online radicalization through gaming platforms. The operation, titled Referral Action Day, was conducted on November 13, 2025, and focused on the removal of terrorist, racist, and xenophobic propaganda from various gaming and related platforms.

During this coordinated effort, the European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU) led the charge in identifying and referring thousands of harmful URLs. These included approximately 5,408 links to jihadist content, 1,070 links tied to violent right-wing extremism and terrorism, and 105 links associated with racist and xenophobic material. The operation spanned Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, showcasing a unified approach to tackling this pressing issue.

The misuse of gaming and streaming platforms poses a complex challenge, as these mediums are increasingly exploited to spread violent and dangerous content. Techniques used include re-enactments of terrorist attacks within games, editing videos with extremist symbols or music, and sharing them across social media platforms to amplify their reach. Some platforms also serve as recruitment grounds or venues for livestreaming attacks. The EU IRU’s upcoming Transparency Report will provide further insights into these prevention activities, highlighting the efforts to reduce public access to terrorist content online.

This Referral Action Day is part of a broader strategy that involves monitoring, analysis, and public-private partnerships to combat the spread of harmful content. It follows several investigations indicating the growing trend of gaming platforms being used as tools for radicalization. The collective action taken on this day reflects the ongoing commitment of Europol and its partners to safeguard communities from the dangers of online radicalization.