The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by
extremists and terrorist groups on the Internet to spread propaganda and incite
violence. Last week, CEP researchers located 20 TikTok accounts showcasing
antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and pro-Nazi content. Despite being reported to
TikTok on April 25, these accounts were still live as of April 29.
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Extremist Content Online: Antisemitic, Anti-Muslim, And Pro-Nazi Content
Located On TikTok
(New York, N.Y.) — The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the
methods used by extremists and terrorist groups on the Internet to spread
propaganda and incite violence. Last week, CEP researchers located 20 TikTok
accounts showcasing antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and pro-Nazi content. Despite
being reported to TikTok on April 25, these accounts were still live as of
April 29.
Also last week, users on extreme right Telegram channels mocked the British
government’s decision to proscribe the online neo-Nazi Terrorgram network, with
one channel encouraging violence by lone actors. Additionally, the pro-ISIS
group Al Jauhar Media Center solicited donations via the cryptocurrency Monero
on April 23, approximately two weeks after it released a web magazine with
content celebrating the Moscow concert hall attack and criticizing the Chinese
government for its treatment of Uyghurs.
On PasteThis.To and RocketChat, the pro-ISIS Qimam Electronic Foundation (QEF)
shared tips for detecting smartphone surveillance and hacking, offering advice
on apps to increase privacy. Finally, a user on Twitter/X announced that they
were recruiting 14-17-year-old males to join a “youth chapter” of the white
supremacist Active Club movement in Massachusetts.
Antisemitic, Anti-Muslim, and Content Glorifying Violence Located on TikTok
In a sample of content located on April 25, CEP researchers found 20 TikTok
accounts that posted antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and pro-Nazi content, as well as
posts that glorified the perpetrators of acts of terrorism. Fifteen accounts
celebrated or promoted individuals who committed violent acts, including the
2019 Christchurch terrorist, the 2011 Oslo attacker, the 2022 Buffalo shooter,
the 2022 Bratislava attacker, and the man who killed six people and wounded
five others at a Quebec City mosque in 2017.
One account, with over 3,700 followers, posted a large quantity of antisemitic
videos, used an antisemitic slur in the profile name, and called for the
“complete annihilation of” Jews. Another account, with over 1,100 followers,
posted a video of the Australian neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant promoting white
supremacism and fascism, which received over 21,500 views in the two and a half
months it was on TikTok. Several other accounts promoted the Order of Nine
Angles, the Atomwaffen Division, the Nordic Resistance Movement, and the Goyim
Defense League.
The 20 accounts had an average of 659 followers, with accounts ranging between
16 and 3,742 followers. Six accounts had over 1,000 followers.
CEP reported the accounts to TikTok on April 25. They were not removed by
April 29.
“TikTok’s failure to promptly remove antisemitic, anti-Muslim, pro-Nazi, and
violence-glorifying content is negligent and helps spread online hate to a
large audience. It is especially alarming that accounts that glorify white
supremacist mass shooters were not removed in the four days after CEP reported
them,” said CEP researcher Joshua Fisher-Birch. “It is imperative that TikTok
takes measures to address the spread of this violent extremist content,
including implementing more robust and timely content moderation mechanisms.”
Atomwaffen Divison “Fission” breakaway group propaganda video on TikTok.
Screenshot taken on April 25.
Terrorgram Reacts to British Government Proscription
Following the announcement on April 22 that the British government would
proscribe the online neo-Nazi propaganda network known as Terrorgram, extreme
right Telegram channels posted news articles and generally mocked the outlawing
of the network. Several channels and members of Telegram chats posted
Terrorgram manuals following the adoption of the proscription of the online
network on April 26. The manuals, released in June and December of 2021 and
July 2022, call for acts of violence against a wide variety of groups,
including Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Latinos, immigrants, LGTBQ+ people,
journalists, law enforcement, and the government. The manuals encourage attacks
against electrical and transportation infrastructure and houses of worship. The
July 2022 guide included information on producing homemade explosives and
additional helpful information for committing a terrorist attack, such as
operations security, how to conduct surveillance, target selection, and
suggestions for equipment.
On April 23, a prominent Terrorgram-related Telegram channel noted with
approval that a terrorism and extremism publication wrote that lone actors
presented the most significant domestic threat to the U.S. The Telegram post
encouraged acts of violence, stating that terrorism was what the government
feared and not acts of non-violent protest or propaganda campaigns.
Pro-ISIS Propaganda Group Requests Monero Donations
On April 23, the pro-ISIS propaganda group Al Jauhar Media Center requested
donations using the Monero privacy cryptocurrency. The post and previous
articles from the group indicate they are located in or have connections to
India. After a year of silence, Al Jauhar released thethird
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issue of their English language web magazine Serat ul Haq on April 10.
Articles condemned the Indian government, the Taliban, democracy, and
non-violent activism, celebrated the March 22 Moscow concert hall attack, and
specifically denounced the Chinese government for their persecution of the
Uyghurs.
Pro-ISIS users of a chat program have previously
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discussed acquiring Monero while avoiding Know Your Customer (KYC)
requirements and have recommended exchanges for purchasing Monero. Online
pro-ISIS groups operate at least four other Monero wallets where donations can
be sent. In October 2023, the pro-ISIS propaganda group Al-Azaim, which
promotes content related to ISIS-K, requested donations in Monero for the first
time.
Al Jauhar call for Monero donations. Screenshot taken on April 23.
Pro-ISIS Tech Group Releases List for Detecting Phone Surveillance
On April 22, the pro-ISIS Qimam Electronic Foundation (QEF) released a list of
tips for detecting whether a smartphone is being surveilled or hacked. The list
was posted on PasteThis.To and distributed via the RocketChat platform. QEF has
previously posted information regarding cellphone security, such as listing
applications that can access themicrophone
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, and has offered advice onapps
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to increase privacy.
Twitter/X Account for White Supremacist “Youth Active Club” Located
On April 23, a user on Twitter/X claimed that they were recruiting males
between the ages of 14 and 17 for a youth chapter of the white supremacist
Active Club
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movement in Massachusetts. A short video posted on April 23 displaying the
group’s logo had over 1,100 views in approximately 48 hours. The Twitter/X
account was created in April 2024 and had over 90 followers on April 29. In a
blog post in February 2022, the movement’s founder,Robert Rundo
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schools were potential sites for recruiting.
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