Conclusions Paper: Joint meeting for TP 1 and TP 3 :Nihilistic Extremism in the Digital Age

The joint meeting in Brussels of Thematic Panels 1 (Ideologies & Conspiracy Narratives) and 3 (New Technologies & the Online Dimension) brought together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to examine the evolving phenomenon of nihilistic violence in the digital age. The meeting aimed to deepen understanding of a form of violence that challenges conventional categories of extremism and stretches existing policy, legal and operational frameworks.

Nihilistic violent extremism is not easily captured within traditional counter-terrorism paradigms. It is shaped by digital environments, youth subcultures, and behavioural dynamics where violence becomes a form of expression, status, and belonging. The phenomenon has emerged within online subcultures since the late 2010s and is increasingly visible in both online and offline forms of harm.

The meeting focused on three interlinked dimensions: the conceptual and definitional challenges posed by the phenomenon; the role of digital ecosystems in shaping and amplifying nihilistic violent extremism; and the vulnerabilities of minors and young people who are disproportionately affected as both victims and perpetrators. Across sessions, a clear consensus emerged that addressing this threat requires moving beyond siloed approaches towards a coordinated, whole-of-society response integrating prevention, safeguarding, and enforcement.