Saturday, September 12, 2020

QAnon fans spread fake claims about real fires in Oregon

 https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/11/tech/qanon-oregon-fire-conspiracy-theory/index.html

 Authorities in Oregon are pleading with the public to only trust and share information verified by official sources about the unprecedented wildfires sweeping the state. The pleas come as law enforcement agencies described 911 dispatchers being overrun with calls about a false online rumor that "Antifa" members had been arrested for setting the fires — a claim promoted by the anonymous account behind the QAnon conspiracy theories.

The incident highlights how online conspiracy theories, a sustained right-wing campaign to create increased fear of anti-fascist groups, and amplification of false claims by QAnon followers, have real consequences.
On Friday, the FBI responded, saying, "reports that extremists are setting wildfires in Oregon are untrue."

 

 

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