Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections
4 years, 2 months ago

Op-Ed: Facebook drove QAnon’s mad growth and enhanced its power to poison elections

LA Times  

A supporter of QAnon conspiracy theory at a rally for President Trump in 2018. Internet platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube and Twitter have provided the algorithmic amplification to drive QAnon from the fringes into the mainstream. When Trump posts a message on Twitter and Facebook that implies support for QAnon, algorithms give it maximum reach because it grabs and holds attention. Internal Facebook documents shared with NBC journalist Brandy Zadrozny revealed that the largest QAnon pages and groups had more than 3 million followers and members. Threats like QAnon will continue to thrive on internet platforms until policymakers force permanent changes to platforms’ business models.

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History of this topic

Donald Trump's QAnon cult rally: If you thought the fever was breaking, think again
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump's QAnon cult rally: If you thought the fever was breaking, think again

Salon  

Donald Trump continues to be the most dangerous man in America. Last month, the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters for America identified that rising melody — hinting of a coming storm — that appeared again Saturday in Youngstown as either a) "Wwg1wga," with its title an abbreviation of the main QAnon slogan "Where we go one, we go all," that …

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks
2 years, 3 months ago

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I haven’t heard that, but is that supposed …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

Associated Press  

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows. On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words “The Storm is Coming.” In QAnon lore, the …

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife
2 years, 3 months ago

Trump fully embraces QAnon on Truth Social — hours after obsessed supporter allegedly killed wife

Salon  

In his one-term presidency, Donald Trump pushed out a number of notorious conspiracy theories tied to voter fraud, climate change and vaccines, but it wasn't until recently that Trump expressed his explicit support for QAnon – which promotes the idea that Trump is the savior of the American people. Despite the dangers of endorsing a movement the FBI has labeled …

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social
2 years, 3 months ago

Dozens of QAnon accounts are being white-listed on Trump's Truth Social

Raw Story  

There is a concern that Donald Trump's social media site could go dark as a hosting bill of over $1 million has gone unpaid. When asked whether he agreed their conspiracy theories were "cray" or "untrue," he replied, “I don’t know about QAnon.” Months later, speaking with the U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other aides, and saying that …

QAnon has receded from social media -- but it’s just hiding
3 years, 5 months ago

QAnon has receded from social media -- but it’s just hiding

Associated Press  

On the face of it, you might think that the QAnon conspiracy has largely disappeared from big social media sites. Where Facebook groups once openly referenced QAnon, you’ll now see others like “Since you missed this in the so called MSM,” a page referencing “mainstream media” that boasts more than 4,000 followers. “There was a very, very explicit effort within …

QAnon moves into the shadows but movement remains active
3 years, 5 months ago

QAnon moves into the shadows but movement remains active

Al Jazeera  

Social media platforms have removed thousands of accounts associated with QAnon, so users are changing their tactics. “There was a very, very explicit effort within the QAnon community to camouflage their language,” said Angelo Carusone, the president and CEO of Media Matters, a liberal research group that has followed QAnon’s rise. But the social giant will still cut individuals posting …

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers
3 years, 6 months ago

U.S. intelligence report warns of more violence by QAnon followers

LA Times  

A new federal intelligence report warns that adherents of QAnon, the conspiracy theory embraced by some in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, could target Democrats and other political opponents for more violence as the movement’s false prophecies increasingly fail to come true. Many QAnon followers believe former President Trump was fighting enemies within the so-called deep state to …

QAnon content "evaporated" online following post-Jan. 6 social media crackdown, study finds
3 years, 6 months ago

QAnon content "evaporated" online following post-Jan. 6 social media crackdown, study finds

Salon  

New social media policies meant to limit the spread of QAnon conspiracies online appear to be working, new research shows. The study, conducted by the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensics Lab, found that QAnon conspiracy-related phrases "evaporated" from both mainstream and alternative social media sites, like Parler and Gab, following high-profile moderation efforts from companies like Facebook, Google and Twitter. In …

Report: Extremist groups thrive on Facebook despite bans
3 years, 9 months ago

Report: Extremist groups thrive on Facebook despite bans

Associated Press  

A new outside report found that Facebook has allowed groups — many tied to QAnon, boogaloo and militia movements — to glorify violence during the 2020 election and in the weeks leading up to the deadly riots on the U.S. Capitol in January. But despite what Avaaz called “clear violations” of Facebook’s policies, it found that 119 of these pages …

Some local GOP leaders fire up base with conspiracies, lies
3 years, 9 months ago

Some local GOP leaders fire up base with conspiracies, lies

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Associated Press reviewed public and private social media accounts of nearly 1,000 federal, …

Op-Ed: Why QAnon’s similarity to other cults makes it a significant national security threat
3 years, 10 months ago

Op-Ed: Why QAnon’s similarity to other cults makes it a significant national security threat

LA Times  

Followers of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, some carrying posters of the guru, protest in Portland, Ore., in 1985 against his arrest. Instead of admitting defeat, some QAnon followers are promoting a new convoluted conspiracy theory with the outcome they desire: Trump will once again be sworn in as president of the United States on March 4. Despite repeated predictions associated …

How did the QAnon conspiracy go global?
3 years, 10 months ago

How did the QAnon conspiracy go global?

Al Jazeera  

For people outside the US, QAnon seemed like a uniquely American threat – until it wasn’t. So how does a baseless conspiracy theory that says Donald Trump is battling a cabal of child-trafficking elites find its way around the world? In this episode: Aoife Gallagher, analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue; Rudy Bouma, journalist at Nieuwsuur Connect with The …

Facebook, Twitter outpaced by smaller platforms in fight against harmful content
3 years, 10 months ago

Facebook, Twitter outpaced by smaller platforms in fight against harmful content

The Hindu  

Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube made smaller strides than their social media rivals including TikTok and Reddit at battling harmful content such as hate speech and misinformation during the second half of 2020, a study released on Monday showed. Advertising agency IPG Mediabrands released its "Media Responsibility Index," examining how the top social media platforms performed in 10 areas including …

The truth about Russia's role in pushing the QAnon canon of conspiracies
3 years, 10 months ago

The truth about Russia's role in pushing the QAnon canon of conspiracies

Raw Story  

The cult of QAnon is at a crossroads. Whatever role Russia may have played in promoting this conspiracy theory, the real problem is that there's a huge market in the United States for conspiracy theories that promise the violent overthrow of democracy. Q is old conspiracies made new Many of the central tenets of QAnon are retreads of the antisemitic …

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites
3 years, 10 months ago

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites

NPR  

Unwelcome On Facebook And Twitter, QAnon Followers Flock To Fringe Sites Enlarge this image toggle caption Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Stephanie Keith/Getty Images January brought a one-two punch that should have knocked out the fantastical, false QAnon conspiracy theory. When NPR and Ipsos polled people about whether they believe QAnon's core false claim — that "a group of Satan-worshipping elites who …

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World
3 years, 10 months ago

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World

NPR  

Without Their 'Messiah,' QAnon Believers Confront A Post-Trump World Enlarge this image toggle caption Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spencer Platt/Getty Images Now that former President Donald Trump has left office, the community of believers in the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory are left wondering what will happen next. Sponsor Message After the mob stormed the Capitol, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube on Jan. …

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4
3 years, 10 months ago

QAnon merges with white extremists and spreads new conspiracy Trump will be president again on March 4

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. According to reports, the sovereign citizen …

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles
3 years, 11 months ago

QAnon in disarray as reality of Biden presidency settles

Al Jazeera  

Followers of the far-right conspiracy theory will likely migrate to other groups and their offshoots, experts say. Coming to terms As Biden – part of the liberal cabal, according to Q beliefs – took office, some on platforms like the encrypted messaging app Telegram and far-right social media site Gab pushed for adherents to “trust the plan”, a common phrase …

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites
54 years, 11 months ago

What’s Happening to QAnon Now That Trump Is Out of Chances to Arrest the Satanic Elites

Slate  

As Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States at noon on Wednesday, holdouts of the ever-evolving QAnon conspiracy theory were forced to reckon with the reality that Donald Trump was not going to pull this one out. Followers of QAnon hold that satanic pedophiles control the world’s major institutions, which is why many thought that Trump would …

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast
3 years, 11 months ago

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast

NPR  

The QAnon 'Storm' Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast Enlarge this image toggle caption Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images Former President Donald Trump did not declare martial law in his final minutes in office; nor did he reveal a secret plan to remain in power forever. New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose …

Twitter removes over 70,000 accounts promoting QAnon conspiracy theories since US Capitol riots
3 years, 11 months ago

Twitter removes over 70,000 accounts promoting QAnon conspiracy theories since US Capitol riots

Firstpost  

The microblogging site said it acted to clamp down on QAnon-associated posts that have ’the potential to lead to offline harm' San Francisco: Twitter announced Monday it has suspended “more than 70,000 accounts” linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory following the attack on the US Capitol by a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters. “Since Friday, more than 70,000 accounts …

Twitter suspends 70,000 accounts sharing QAnon content
3 years, 11 months ago

Twitter suspends 70,000 accounts sharing QAnon content

Al Jazeera  

Twitter has suspended more than 70,000 accounts since Friday that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content after last week’s violence in Washington when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol. “Given the violent events in Washington, DC, and increased risk of harm, we began permanently suspending thousands of accounts that were primarily dedicated to sharing QAnon content …

Platforms Must Pay for Their Role in the Insurrection
54 years, 11 months ago

Platforms Must Pay for Their Role in the Insurrection

Wired  

President Trump and his enablers in government and right-wing media will shoulder the blame for Wednesday’s insurrection at the US Capitol, but internet platforms—Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, in particular—have played a fomenting and facilitating role that no one should overlook. The business choices of internet platforms have enabled an explosion not only of white supremacy but also of Covid …

QAnon | Riding the ‘infodemic’ wave
4 years ago

QAnon | Riding the ‘infodemic’ wave

The Hindu  

More than one month since presidential elections were held in the U.S., incumbent President Donald Trump has refused to concede his loss to Joe Biden despite the fact that the latter has clearly secured 306 Electoral College votes and 51.3% of the popular vote. COVID-19 is not the only viral threat that has engulfed the U.S.; the misinformation “infodemic” — …

Inside the spread of conspiracies and disinformation by women on social media
4 years ago

Inside the spread of conspiracies and disinformation by women on social media

Raw Story  

“The QAnon stuff infiltrated Instagram and seeped into the suburban consciousness of American women to a certain extent, and they bought into it,” according to experts. Facebook, which acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012, cracked down on October 6, saying, “we will remove any Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon, even if they contain no violent content.” …

This GOP Lawmaker Denounced QAnon—and Fears for His Party
4 years, 1 month ago

This GOP Lawmaker Denounced QAnon—and Fears for His Party

Wired  

Elected officials love to say they aren’t typical politicians. A businessman, former Air Force intelligence officer, and expert on Bigfoot believers, Riggleman has repeatedly refused to bow to party orthodoxy since being elected in 2018, most notably when he officiated a same-sex marriage ceremony last year. More recently, Riggleman has become one of the most outspoken Republican critics of QAnon, …

This Sure Isn’t the Election QAnon Wanted
54 years, 11 months ago

This Sure Isn’t the Election QAnon Wanted

Slate  

Everyone, at some point, has to deal with being on the losing side of a presidential election. On 8kun, the seedy imageboard where the movement’s anonymous leader Q posts messages to his followers, QAnon followers can’t quite agree on how to process Trump’s likely defeat. With his site privileges, Ron was able to control the Q account whenever he wanted …

Patreon follows Facebook, Twitter in Qanon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Patreon follows Facebook, Twitter in Qanon crackdown

LA Times  

A man holding a Q sign waits in line to enter a rally for President Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The company announced in a blog post that it would be taking action against accounts who use its platform to actively spread QAnon’s beliefs. The post detailed how “QAnon-dedicated creators that are identified by our Policy and Trust & Safety teams …

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point
4 years, 2 months ago

The Hindu Explains | How QAnon went from a bizarre conspiracy theory to an election talking point

The Hindu  

In a recent televised townhall, U.S. President Donald Trump was asked if he denounced the right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, which claims that Democrats are part of a satan-worshipping pedophile ring, and that Mr. Trump is the “savior” from this. QAnon is an elaborate right-wing conspiracy theory that believes a wide range of people – Democratic party leaders, Hollywood elites, U.S. …

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon
4 years, 2 months ago

AP Explains: What’s behind Trump’s town hall answer on QAnon

Associated Press  

“Ask the Q” has been a rallying cry for QAnon believers since the conspiracy theory’s online birth three years ago. Many QAnon followers believe thousands of deep state operatives and top Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, will be rounded up and sent to Guantanamo Bay during an event called “The Storm.” In May 2019, an FBI bulletin mentioning QAnon warned that …

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown

The Hindu  

YouTube is following the lead of Twitter and Facebook, saying that it is taking more steps to limit QAnon and other baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to real-world violence. It said it would remove pages, groups and Instagram accounts for representing QAnon — even if they don’t promote violence. Facebook’s move came two months after it announced softer crackdown, …

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown

Associated Press  

OAKLAND, Calif. — YouTube is following the lead of Twitter and Facebook, saying that it is taking more steps to limit QAnon and other baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to real-world violence. Facebook’s move came two months after it announced softer crackdown, saying said it would stop promoting the group and its adherents. “All of this work has been …

Facebook braces for contested election, voter intimidation
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook braces for contested election, voter intimidation

Associated Press  

OAKLAND, Calif. — Facebook said it’s readied new safeguards for the 2020 U.S. elections that have it better prepared to deal with candidates who prematurely declare victory or contest official results and the possibility of voter intimidation by alleged — and potentially armed — “poll watchers.” In the former case, Facebook plans to halt all political The social network has …

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US
4 years, 2 months ago

What is QAnon, the conspiracy theory spreading throughout the US

Al Jazeera  

At least 24 US political candidates have supported a conspiracy that claims liberals are harvesting children’s blood. The far-right QAnon conspiracy theory has made waves in this election after US President Donald Trump’s acknowledgement of its adherents in August and an increase in Republican and independent congressional candidates embracing the movement, which many consider a mad hoax or even a …

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous amid surging misinformation
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous amid surging misinformation

The Hindu  

Facebook Inc on Tuesday classified the QAnon conspiracy theory movement as dangerous and began removing Facebook groups and pages as well as Instagram accounts that hold themselves out as representatives. The step escalates an August policy that banned a third of QAnon groups for promoting violence while allowing most to stay, albeit with content appearing less often in news feeds. …

Right-wing QAnon conspiracy theorists see their pages banned across all Facebook platforms
4 years, 2 months ago

Right-wing QAnon conspiracy theorists see their pages banned across all Facebook platforms

Salon  

Facebook announced on Tuesday that it is banning QAnon content across its platforms, an action that it characterizes as part of a larger effort to stop "Militarized Social Movements" from recruiting people through their social media sites. "Starting today, we will remove any Facebook Pages, Groups and Instagram accounts representing QAnon, even if they contain no violent content," Facebook explained …

Facebook completely bans conspiracy group QAnon on all its services
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook completely bans conspiracy group QAnon on all its services

India Today  

Facebook is cracking down on groups, themes, and accounts that represent the QAnon movement. Facebook’s first attempt to restrict such accounts came in August when it removed around 1500 QAnon accounts and groups for showing potential violence. "We’ve been vigilant in enforcing our policy and studying its impact on the platform but we’ve seen several issues that led to today’s …

Facebook says it will ban groups that openly support QAnon
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook says it will ban groups that openly support QAnon

Associated Press  

OAKLAND, Calif. — Facebook said it will ban groups that openly support QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that paints President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and “deep state” government officials. The company said Tuesday that it will remove Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts for “representing QAnon” — even if they …

Facebook institutes sweeping ban on QAnon. Will it work?
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook institutes sweeping ban on QAnon. Will it work?

LA Times  

In this Aug. 2, 2018 photo, David Reinert holding a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. In a Tuesday blog post, Facebook said that although QAnon posts may not directly promote violence, they are often nonetheless linked to “different forms of real world harm.” The company cited a …

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook bans all QAnon groups as dangerous

Al Jazeera  

Company begins removing Facebook groups, pages and Instagram accounts associated with the conspiracy theory movement. Facebook has classified the QAnon conspiracy theory movement as dangerous and began removing Facebook groups and pages as well as Instagram accounts that hold themselves out as representatives. Since the August restrictions, some QAnon groups have added members, and others used coded language to evade …

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown

The Hindu  

Facebook and Twitter promised to stop encouraging the growth of the baseless conspiracy theory QAnon, which fashions President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and government officials, after it reached an audience of millions on their platforms this year. But the social media companies still aren’t enforcing even the limited restrictions they’ve …

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown
4 years, 2 months ago

Facebook, Twitter flounder in QAnon crackdown

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — Facebook and Twitter promised to stop encouraging the growth of the baseless conspiracy theory QAnon, which fashions President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed child-trafficking ring run by celebrities and government officials, after it reached an audience of millions on their platforms this year. One post that used the QAnon hashtag, which raked up nearly …

QAnon: Everything we know about the identity of Q.
54 years, 11 months ago

QAnon: Everything we know about the identity of Q.

Slate  

Whether you call it a conspiracy theory or a collective delusion, QAnon now takes up a shocking amount of breathing room in national politics. According to Brennan’s telling, Watkins’ son Ron was able to wrestle control of the Q account away from Furber at the beginning of 2018 using his login privileges as the site’s administrator. However, Jim Watkins has …

Russian-backed organisations amplify QAnon conspiracy theories
4 years, 4 months ago

Russian-backed organisations amplify QAnon conspiracy theories

Al Jazeera  

Researchers believe the Kremlin is highlighting a conspiracy theory that Trump is battling satanic politicians. In 2019, the Internet Research Agency, a Russian “troll factory” indicted by Robert Mueller in his election interference prosecution, sent a high volume of tweets tagged with #QAnon and the movement slogan #WWG1WGA, short for Where We Go One, We Go All, said Melanie Smith, …

After Twitter, Facebook removes hundreds of QAnon groups
4 years, 4 months ago

After Twitter, Facebook removes hundreds of QAnon groups

Op India  

On Wednesday, the social media giant Facebook in a controversial decision removed around 800 QAnon groups for posts that allegedly ‘celebrated violence’ and showed ‘intent to use weapons’ or try to attract followers with ‘patterns of violent behaviour’. Facebook had removed nearly 800 QAnon conspiracy groups for posts celebrating violence, showing intent to use weapons, or attracting followers with patterns …

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, who ‘like me very much’
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, who ‘like me very much’

LA Times  

President Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested that he appreciates their support for his reelection. Speaking during a news conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, “I heard that these are people that love our country.” It was Trump’s …

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, appreciates support
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump praises QAnon conspiracists, appreciates support

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the supporters of QAnon, a convoluted, pro-Trump conspiracy theory, and suggested he appreciates their support of his candidacy. Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Trump courted the support of those who put stock in the conspiracy theory, saying, “I heard that these are people that love our country.” It …

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