(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, multiple extreme right Telegram channels promoted homophobia and transphobia at the beginning of LGBTQ Pride Month. Two channels affiliated with the neo-Nazi Terrorgram online community encouraged or celebrated acts of violence.
CEP researchers also located pro-ISIS propaganda celebrating the May 31 Mannheim, Germany knife attack and advocating lone-actor attacks. A pro-ISIS tech group offered suggestions for improving online security, including recommending websites to scan suspicious URLs and urging Samsung users to install a security update. Also, last week, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent released a communique clarifying their approach to Kashmir.
Additionally, CEP researchers located a new website promoting chapters of the white supremacist Active Club movement in Germany, and Telegram channels affiliated with the neo-fascist group Patriot Front promoted their leader’s recent appearance on a popular YouTube show. CEP researchers also reported content on Twitter/X, including an account belonging to the antisemitic leader of the Goyim Defense League and an Active Club chapter in Southern California that specifically noted they were hoping to recruit through the social media site. Finally, CEP identified several Telegram channels that posted racist AI-generated music using the Suno AI program.
Extreme Right Telegram Channels Promote Homophobia and Transphobia in Response to LGBTQ Pride Month
During the week of June 2 to 8, CEP located multiple posts on extreme right Telegram channels condemning LGBTQ Pride Month. Two Telegram channels associated with the Terrorgram community promoted violence, including a channel with almost 200 subscribers that encouraged violence against LGBTQ people and as well as anti-Arab violence. The post had over 1,200 views and was shared by several white supremacist Telegram accounts. A notorious channel that mainly posts about white supremacist violence celebrated the first anniversary of the murder of an African American lesbian woman in Cedar Park, Texas, noting that it occurred during Pride Month.
Additional posts included the promotion of homophobia and transphobia and a post from an Active Club chapter in Lithuania promoting an anti-LGBTQ protest.
“Telegram continues to be one of the main online platforms for extreme right propagandists who promote and celebrate acts of violence,” said CEP Researcher Joshua Fisher-Birch. “In June, many white supremacist and neo-Nazi channel administrators are directing their hate towards LGBTQ Pride Month. Telegram should enforce its Terms of Service and remove extremist channels that celebrate or call for attacks.”
Pro-ISIS Propaganda Continues to Encourage Lone-Actor Attacks, Celebrates Mannheim Knife Attack
Propaganda supporting ISIS in Pakistan, located by CEP the week of June 2 to 8, encouraged lone-actor attacks. CEP found a propaganda image in Urdu on RocketChat that encouraged acts of violence allegedly in revenge for military operations in Iraq, Syria, and Gaza. An English language “open letter to Americans” stated that both civilians and military personnel were legitimate targets.
Pro-ISIS online propagandists have increasingly released easy-to-make images to encourage acts of terrorism, receive media attention, and force event planners to increase security.
Propagandists on Telegram also praised the man who murdered a police officer in Mannheim, Germany, during a stabbing spree. German authorities have stated that there was an “Islamic extremist motive” in the attack. However, the attacker has not been publicly tied to any groups.
Pro-ISIS Tech Group Suggests Virus Scan Websites, Advises Samsung Phone Users to Update Devices
On June 3, the pro-ISIS tech group Qimam Electronic Foundation (QEF) posted a list on PasteThis.To, via RocketChat, with a short list of five websites that can be used to scan URLs and files for malware. ISIS online supporters have previously expressed concern regarding the spread of malware in chats in the form of malicious links or downloadable content.
On June 5, QEF posted on RocketChat urging their followers to update Samsung devices. They directed users to an official Samsung security bulletin, which instructed customers to patch security vulnerabilities on Android devices.
Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent Releases Communique Clarifying Position on Kashmir
CEP researchers located a post from al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), posted on a pro-al-Qaeda website on May 31, stating that it was necessary to work with other violent jihadist groups in Kashmir, but that AQIS itself has not claimed a direct affiliation with a group there. The communique condemned “organizational bias or prejudice” and called for joining “correct” groups and eventually instituting a religious government.
German Active Club Chapters Launch Website
On June 6, CEP researchers located a website advertising German chapters of the white supremacist Active Club movement. The site uses the logo of the main German group and contains an email address, a Telegram channel link, and a recruitment video released from a chapter in Bavaria.
Lumaserv hosts the website according to who-hosts-this.com.
On June 5, the German Active Club Telegram channel announced that the group was selling packets of propaganda stickers advertising the website.
CEP has previously found a relaunch of the main website for the decentralized Active Club movement in February 2024, as well as a regional website for a chapter of the group in the western U.S.
