Moonshot has launched a new monthly insights product, the Moonshot Threat Bulletin, providing an overview of the key events, themes, and narratives discussed by audiences within online U.S.-based Domestic Violent Extremist (DVE) spaces, including:
- Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism (REMVE)
- Anti-Government and Anti-Authority Violent Extremism (AGAAVE) (including Militia Violent Extremism, Sovereign Citizen Violent Extremism, and Anarchist Violent Extremism)
- Harmful Conspiracy Theories online.
It also provides an assessment of violent hate, threats, and harassment trends online.
The Threat Bulletin includes comprehensive coverage of both mainstream and niche platforms, including Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Gab, Telegram, 4chan, Stormfront, Gettr, MyMilitia, 8kun, among others.
In this new series, we will provide a monthly glimpse into The Threat Bulletin’s national trends analysis of online DVE spaces across the U.S. Our aim is to give a taste of the critical insights and coverage that Threat Bulletin provides.
This blog contains a short excerpt from April’s Moonshot Threat Bulletin. If you would like to access a one month free-trial to the full Threat Bulletin and discuss buying a subscription for your organization, please get in touch: threatbulletin@moonshotteam.com
April 2022 National Trends
Developing narratives and online searches
Across platforms, the New York Subway shooting led to an increase in conspiracy theories, anti-black sentiment, and antisemitism, including claims that the shooting is “fake” and “manufactured”, and allegations that the media is “burying” James’ race prompt anti-mainstream media sentiment. Within REMVE spaces, users claimed the attack was the result of “systematic anti-whiteness”, and claimed the perpetrator was “radicalized” by the Jewish community to attack white people.
“Ghost gun” conversations spike following Biden’s April 11 announcement of new rules to regulate “ghost guns”, unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home. Across platforms, discussions included widespread calls to “ignore the rule”, alongside calls for violence against the President, and “wage war” against the government. Within both AGAAVE and REMVE spaces, users shared how to use 3D printers or lathe machines to build or modify “ghost guns”.
DVE audiences continue to voice support for Russia and expressed antisemitic sentiment, and share conspiracies that claim Ukrainian President Zelenskyy part of “deep state cabal”, following his speech at the 2022 Grammy Awards. Across platforms, REMVE and harmful conspiracy communities also claim that several attacks are “completely staged”.
Searches indicating hatred towards the Muslim community increased in April, including terms like “we hate Muslims”, “Islam enemy”, and “Killing Muslims”.
Violent language and threats
Across online DVE spaces, posts using violent language and threats of violence have decreased in April, including a monthly decrease in threats towards both the Jewish community and the Black community. However, threats towards the Black community spiked following the arrest of Frank James in connection with the New York City shooting and the release of footage of the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya by a police officer in Michigan.
Threats of violence against the police have increased since last month particularly within AGAAVE spaces.
Throughout April, violent threats towards Disney & the LGBTQ+ community surged following company’s statement opposing Florida’s “Don’t say Gay’ bill. DVE audiences expressed widespread hostility towards the company, claiming that it supports the “grooming of children”, and is promoting a “paedophilic” or “globohomo” agenda. Within REMVE spaces, Disney’s stance on the bill is used to promote antisemitism. Across platforms and groups, there were a high number of calls for violence against both Disney and the LGBTQ+ community, with users calling for Disney to be “bombed”.
The Threat Bulletin also monitors and forecasts future trends and events to watch across online DVE spaces. Subscribe for more detailed insights and analysis, including geo-spatial assessments of DVE threats across the U.S.: threatbulletin@moonshotteam.com.
