An internal FBI memo declared Qanon and other conspiracy theories a domestic terrorism threat — but to their followers, could that give them more credence?
There are still many questions surrounding the memo, such as why it was disseminated when it was, or how Yahoo acquired it. Considering that the FBI has long attracted criticism for failing to adequately address the scourge of white nationalists and far-right extremist hate groups, it is unclear what precisely may have prompted the FBI to consider conspiracy theorists a domestic terrorism threat.
Curiously, the FBI memo does not hold social media platforms to task. Grygiel speculates that it may have something to do with social media platforms collaborating with the FBI to conduct surveillance on those who share such conspiracy theories, which might also play into why the FBI did not publicly release the report. “I would be in shock if, in implementing this monitoring, [the FBI] did not include the platforms,” they say.
But a bigger reason why the FBI may have chosen not to release the report — or even publicly reference it while discussing domestic terrorism threats, as FBI Director Christopher Wray has done multiple times in recent weeks — is because of the effect it may have had on QAnon itself. “I think Qanon will pat themselves on the back.
Indeed, judging by the response on social media, this appears to be exactly what has happened. While some appeared to have been genuinely wounded by the FBI memo, expressing deep feelings of outrage and betrayal toward Q, who had repeatedly assured followers in various posts that Wray was to be trusted, others appeared to double down.
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