The aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has seen a disturbing rise in calls for violence online, particularly for a modern-day civil war. Moonshot, a company that monitors domestic violent extremism online, documented a 633% increase in calls for civil war following the incident. This spike in online calls for violence is not uncommon after acts of targeted violence, with perpetrators often posting troubling content online prior to carrying out their attacks.
In the case of the recent shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, the FBI is investigating the shooter’s online footprint, which is believed to contain antisemitic, anti-immigration, and politically violent themes. The shooter, Matthew Crooks, injured several individuals before being shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
Following the shooting, Moonshot also found an increase in specific threats or encouragements to violence online. Everytown for Gun Safety partnered with Moonshot on a report that tracked online discussions of mass shootings and targeted violence, revealing a glorification of perpetrators and calls for real-world violence in certain online spaces.
Mainstream platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have made efforts to remove harmful content, but extremist platforms that glorify violence continue to exist. Fringe websites dedicated to discussing and celebrating mass shootings have emerged, with perpetrators of past shootings like Columbine being idolized in these online spaces.
As calls for increased moderation of online spaces grow, platforms like Reddit have strict content policies against violence-inciting content, while others like 4Chan have not responded to requests for comment. The connection between online violent rhetoric and real-world violent attacks is a concerning trend that requires further research and action to address the spread of harmful content online.
The prevalence of violent content online poses a threat to public safety and underscores the need for platforms to prioritize the removal of harmful content over traffic numbers. The ongoing monitoring and moderation of extremist online spaces are crucial in combating the glorification of violence and preventing further acts of targeted violence in the future.
