Target: Humam Sakhnini, CEO of Discord
Goal: Enact stronger safeguards against predators seemingly using online platform for violent ends.
It sounds like horrific fiction from a hit crime show. An insidious, extremist, and depraved cult flourishes in the darkest corners of the Internet. Members of this secret group assign themselves a seemingly innocent but deeply sinister name. And these members curry favor and status within the group by finding vulnerable victims online and allegedly manipulating their prey to harm themselves or others. Sometimes, the seemingly predatory hunt is a group effort, with increasingly escalating calls to violence. But for a growing number of families, this unimaginable horror became a living nightmare…played out in the spotlight of an influential online outlet.
Parents of a young teenager who took his own life are suing online platform Discord – popular with gamers – for failing to rein in extremist group 764, whom they claim lured their son into chats that soon turned into chants for the boy’s suicide. Other families have recounted similar terrifying tales. In addition to group pressure, the network also reportedly gains leverage over targeted victims by obtaining private information and pictures and using these items as blackmail. Many times, the group has allegedly hosted group chats so members can watch victims inflict self-harm.
Critics accuse Discord of catastrophic and even intentional lapses in safety and response protocols. The aforementioned lawsuit claims the company went so far as to protect and grow the 764 cult. And with Discord’s marketing toward children, the exploitation was compounded.
Sign the petition below to demand Discord’s leaders take concrete action to stop the spread of what the FBI is calling “modern-day terrorism in America” and beyond.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Sakhnini,
“From the outset, Discord designed a platform structurally rife with obvious, risk-amplifying features–and when those risks materialized through 764, Discord housed it, grew it, and meanwhile marketed itself to more child users, guaranteeing their exploitation.” These powerful accusations are taken from a lawsuit on behalf of the parents of a 13-year-old boy who committed suicide following alleged deadly abuse and harassment on Discord’s platforms. The lawsuit – representative of the harrowing stories of too many families – further alleges that Discord “deliberately understaffs and under-resources its safety and response team.”
This company may publicly claim it has done everything in its power to curtail such tragic and horrific outcomes, but the families on the front lines of these tragedies obviously disagree. You have a duty and an obligation to your young and vulnerable audience to focus more on expedient action than spin. Listen to these families, address their concerns, and ensure Discord is not remembered as a hunting ground for the world’s worst predators.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Mikhail Nilov
