Facebook Removes QAnon Conspiracy Group With 200,000 Members (bbc.com)
- Reference: 0134474221
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/20/08/07/218219/facebook-removes-qanon-conspiracy-group-with-200000-members
- Source link: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53692545
> Facebook has [1]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." 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. [2]Reuters reports that Official Q/QAnon "crossed the line" on bullying, harassment, hate speech and the sharing of potentially harmful misinformation.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53692545
[2] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-qanon/facebook-removes-one-of-largest-qanon-conspiracy-groups-after-false-posts-idUSKCN2530H6
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
OK. So you believe conspiracy theories should be censored by Facebook. The real question is, why do you trust Facebook to be the final arbiter on what is and isn't a conspiracy theory? For years the idea that the American government was selling arms to Middle Eastern terrorists to fund a war in Central America was a "conspiracy theory" until Eugene Hasenfus got shot down over Honduras and everything came to light.
I don't (Score:2)
but you're presenting a false dichotomy. Facebook can take down what I (and let's face it all of us) can plainly see is a harmful misinformation campaign (I refuse to call it a conspiracy theory, it's way past that) and I can praise them for that.
OTOH If they, for example, took down scientifically accurate information about the Corona virus in an effort to, say, force schools to reopen when it wasn't safe, then I can call them out on that too, while being consistent the entire time.
See, the thing th
Re: I don't (Score:2, Troll)
I haven't read any of the Qanon trolling material, but now that it's taken down I would have to just take you at your word since I no longer have the option of examining it and reaching an informed conclusion. And that is the problem.
Re: (Score:2)
What they do is twist about occurrences that have nothing to do with what they claim it has to do with. Sort of claim any arrest of any paedo as part of the overall operations, claim all sorts of stuff will happen that never happens, try an tie anything that happens as something the group caused. Just a PR troll thing, nothing unusual and nothing that needs to be banned. For many it is just fun story telling. For Facebook the biggest liars and scammers of all, perhaps it is just unwanted competition to Face
Re: (Score:3)
I trust neither Facebook nor any random Facebook group, but it's the thousands who do that make it a problem.
I haven't used it in close to a decade, so it doesn't affect me either way. (Nor do I feel like I'm missing out on any grand discourse, casual sex, cat pictures, super top secret information, or whatever else. Did the story of Eugene Hasenfus need Facebook to break?)
When the medium our politicians, businesses, government agencies - voluntarily - choose to communicate with us, also hosts political con
Re: Facebook is right! (Score:2)
> If you're having to use the phrase "deep state" to describe it, though, it's because hearing the best wild tales lets you avoid discussing the actual reasons.
That's funny. When pro-Trump peeps talk about "the deep state", that's like totally bullshit. When everyone else talks about "The Military Industrial Complex" that's like totally legit and a real thing. Meanwhile both groups are talking about the same phenomenon.
In case anyone doesn't know of Qanon (Score:5, Informative)
America's greatest news source has [1]A convenient guide [theonion.com]
[1] https://www.theonion.com/the-onion-s-guide-to-qanon-1844647760
Re: (Score:2)
Seconded
I wish them luck. (Score:2)
This will be no doubt as effective as trying to get rid of cockroaches by wiping down all the counters.
Re: (Score:2)
Keeping your kitchen clean is actually a pretty good start to getting rid of cockroaches. Your house is a disaster, isn't it?
Re: (Score:2)
I haven't seen a cockroach in my living area for over 40 years now. Last time was when living with roommates during the college days.
Ants, though. Had problems with ants now and then.
Re: (Score:2)
Wait, who told you about the cockroaches?
Not the best way to deal with a conspiracy theory! (Score:1)
I assume that QAnon is just some standard dumb conspiracy theory. Fine. That happens. I'm sure it would burn out reasonably fast if they were just left alone by sane people. But you just know that they will take this ban as confirmation that "somebody" is trying to silence them, and it will recruit all kinds of people who were skeptical before.
Re: (Score:1)
If we're going to ban crazy people because some of them turn to violence, where the fuck are the bans on all these lunatic rioters and their posts?
Re: (Score:1)
This is the QAnon manifesto secretly encoded within the massive screed; but only if you know how to decode it:
First you take every letter in alphabetical order, and put them in a row. We'll call that the "working set" of symbols. Then, taking the letters carefully from the "working set" you can make any of the other QAnon approved nutter conspiracy theories. If you have to duplicate a letter, it's OK, you can use them more than once if needed.
QAnon is the mother of all conspiracy theories, it is the grand
Re: (Score:2)
What are you smoking and where can I get some? It needs to be destroyed if there is any hope.
Sorry, Dem here, that was me (Score:2)
I gave our enemies [1]advanced technology [youtube.com] that rendered the wall useless.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y0nQIHn3pE
Can someone learn how to summarize please? (Score:2)
> Reuters reports that Official Q/QAnon "crossed the line" on bullying, harassment, hate speech and the sharing of potentially harmful misinformation.
No, Reuters didn't report anything of the sort. Reuters reported that's what a Facebook spokeswoman told them.
Re: (Score:2)
So a recently-born truther movement is equivalent to one of the most influential political concepts to ever exist? A concept that, whether you think it's a terrible idea or not, actively influences the founding principles and daily operations of many countries worldwide?
Your opinions of neither Q-Anon nor Socialism matter— that analogy is about as half-baked as they come. You probably ought to stop making assertions about this until you actually form some coherent thoughts on the matter.
Re: (Score:1)
You're neglecting the lifelong trauma of the perhaps thousands of people who had to endure the personal horror of clicking "unfriend".
What a joke, Facebooks (Score:2)
independent Sooth Sayers put their stamp of ideological truth on yada, yada, yada.
Must give them quite the personal power rush.
Re: (Score:1)
Whenever my opponent has a good point, I search Facebook for an overtly crazy group that -also- believes that point.
Easy wins. Thanks Facebook.
Re: (Score:1)
No idea, but they apparently have some Republican ideas, so I'm going full guilt-by-association.
Probably works on Democrats, too. Guessing a search for "Quaalude & Democrat" will give a roster including Ley lines or chakra crystals or somesuch, free to choose from. Facebook has the full rhetorical buffet at your fingertips.
Re: They are a conspiracy group?!? (Score:2)
> Probably works on Democrats, too. Guessing a search for "Quaalude & Democrat" will give a roster including Ley lines or chakra crystals or somesuch, free to choose from.
I would assume the top entry would be a link to the Wikipedia article on Bill Cosby.