Forensic characteristics of youth extremism in the digital era

Introduction. Extremist activity today poses one of the most serious threats to national security of the Russian Federation. It undermines the foundations of the constitutional order, violates the rights and freedoms of citizens, and creates the conditions for destabilization of the socio-political situation in the country. Of particular concern to government agencies and society as a whole is the spread of extremism among young people, driven both by the socio-psychological characteristics of the younger generation and by the deliberate influence of destructive forces on this most vulnerable segment of the population. Materials and Methods. The scientific work used dialectical-materialistic, formal-logical, system-structural, comparative-legal and other methods of cognition, facilitating a comprehensive study of issues related to the subject of the study. The Results of the Study. The article considers current aspects of the forensic characteristics of extremist crimes committed among young people. The methods of committing these crimes are analyzed, including the psychological characteristics of the person who involves young people in the illegal sphere of activity. The influence of modern information and telecommunication technologies on the mechanisms of committing extremist crimes is studied, special attention is paid to the role of the Internet and social networks in coordinating illegal actions. The specifics of the youth audience as a target group of extremist organizations and the methods of their recruitment through digital communication channels are studied. Findings and Conclusions. The article substantiates the importance of studying the methods of committing extremist crimes to improve the methods of their detection and investigation. It is shown that a deep understanding of the forensic characteristics of such crimes allows us to develop effective strategies to counter extremism and protect young people from its negative influence.