Facebook removes QAnon conspiracy group with 200,000 members

Authored by bbc.com and submitted by spsheridan
image for Facebook removes QAnon conspiracy group with 200,000 members

Image caption This symbol and slogan has become an emblem of QAnon

Facebook has deleted a large group dedicated to sharing and discussing QAnon conspiracy theories.

QAnon is a wide-ranging, unfounded conspiracy theory that a "deep state" network of powerful government, business and media figures are waging a secret war against Donald Trump.

A Facebook spokeswoman said the group was removed for "repeatedly posting content that violated our policies".

Last month both Twitter and TikTok also cracked down on QAnon content.

Twitter banned thousands of accounts and said it would block QAnon urls, while TikTok deleted hashtags that signposted QAnon videos.

The deleted Facebook group, called Official Q/Qanon, had nearly 200,000 members.

There are, however, many other QAnon groups that are currently still active on the platform.

QAnon followers are mainly supporters of the US president.

Reuters reports that Official Q/QAnon "crossed the line" on bullying, harassment, hate speech and the sharing of potentially harmful misinformation.

The FBI last year issued a warning about "conspiracy theory-driven domestic extremists" and designated QAnon a potential domestic extremist threat.

By Shayan Sardarizadeh and Jack Goodman, BBC anti-disinformation team

QAnon is a wide-ranging, unfounded conspiracy theory that President Trump is having to fight against a clandestine "deep state" network of political, business, media and entertainment elites, often involving satanic plots and child trafficking.

QAnon began in October 2017 on the anonymous message board 4chan. A user claimed to have top-security clearance within the US government and signed off their posts anonymously as "Q" - hence the name QAnon. Q communicates in cryptic posts and claims to be involved directly in a secret Trump-led investigation of a global network of child abusers.

QAnon followed on from the "pizzagate" saga in 2016 - a fake theory about Democratic Party politicians running a paedophile ring out of a Washington pizza restaurant.

QAnon influencers have big audiences on social media. They urge followers to "do their own research" - in other words, watch YouTube videos and talk to other supporters - to solve Q's puzzles. In its nearly three years of existence, the conspiracy has drawn huge traffic on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Reddit, attracting hundreds of thousands of dedicated followers. This includes celebrities and dozens of candidates running for Congress this year.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Q influencers have spread unfounded theories about coronavirus, calling it a "deep state" hoax and have promoted misinformation about face masks and vaccines.

the_freudian_slit on August 7th, 2020 at 16:26 UTC »

This from a (crackpot) buddy on FB:

"First Trump tells us there is a storm behind him. 👇 Then he tells us today "I have a lot of rich enemies" and "this may be the last time you see me in a while." 👇 Q clock points to post 44. 👇 We may see "my fellow Americans..." tomorrow. 👇 We are awaiting a specific tweet from Trump: "My Fellow Americans, The Storm is Upon Us." When we see that we know that all systems are go. POTUS will take to AF1 and we will go dark for 3-5 days. He will communicate via the public broadcast system. There will be military in the streets and they are there to round up and arrest the guilty. BE AT PEACE. YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ARE SAFE. 👇 During those "days of darkness" we will see on TV in 8 hour cycles all that has REALLY been going on in our world. It will be "Fall Cabal" for everyone. 👇 I thought we would not see this until after the election but it is VERY possible that we may see it much sooner. (AND it is equally possible that this is a FF.) 👇 When communications come back up we will will have shifted into a new paradigm. The world will know it all (IF this is THAT darkness). I'm telling you what I know and hoping you are prepared. Grab some groceries and have gas in your car and some cash on hand. It is always good to be prepared just in case. 👇 Tomorrow may be FRYDAY. 👇 Turns out 11.11 and 12.21 line up with the :44 mark and Friday. 👇 Check out the military activity in the skies!!! Keep your eyes on God and PRAY!!!

WWG1-WGA Annie Que Portah"

You wouldn't believe the true believers lining up for this horseshit. Boggles the fucking mind.

savagedan on August 7th, 2020 at 14:39 UTC »

QAnon is the most absurd conspiracy theory imaginable and demonstrates how many truly moronic people there are in the US

BostonDrivingIsWorse on August 7th, 2020 at 13:42 UTC »

Because they got too close.

/s