Neo-Nazi Terrorist Group Spreads Violent Propaganda on Mainstream Social Media Ahead of Presidential Election

 

As the presidential election nears, a newly designated neo-Nazi terrorist group has been stealthily spreading violent propaganda across mainstream social media platforms, exposing tens of thousands of unsuspecting followers to radicalizing content. This alarming development comes from a report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) shared exclusively with the Guardian.

The group, known as Terrorgram, has infiltrated popular platforms, including Telegram, where it masquerades as legitimate right-wing content. One of these channels falsely claims to be associated with Steve Bannon's War Room podcast, with an administrator boasting of direct contact with Bannon, a known provocateur with ties to extremist movements.

Terrorgram was officially classified as a terrorist entity by the UK government in April, following a surge in public interest in the group’s violent, neo-Nazi propaganda. The network advocates for "accelerationism," a belief that societal collapse should be hastened through acts of terrorism. The group has already influenced violent incidents, including the 2022 Bratislava shooting and a recent mass stabbing at a mosque in Turkey.

According to Steven Rai, an analyst at ISD, Terrorgram’s strategy involves using seemingly innocuous channels to expose a broader audience to extremist content. These channels initially share clips from mainstream news outlets like CNN and MSNBC before gradually introducing conspiratorial and violent content. The channels then encourage followers to join more radical group chats where extremist ideas are openly promoted.

Rai's report highlights that three such channels have amassed over 70,000 subscribers combined, far surpassing the reach of channels openly affiliated with Terrorgram. The most significant of these channels appears to be one that has co-opted the Bannon War Room brand, claiming over 63,000 subscribers, just shy of the legitimate War Room channel.

The infiltration of these spaces by Terrorgram operatives poses a serious threat as the election approaches, with concerns that this propaganda could incite violence. The FBI, under Director Christopher Wray, has acknowledged the potential for election-related violence and has committed to investigating any threats rigorously.

As the election draws closer, the full impact of Terrorgram’s radicalization efforts remains uncertain, but the risk it poses to public safety is undeniable.