QAnon Conspiracy Theory Finds Global Popularity during Pandemic

'Mortifying, Embarrassing, Dangerous'

The conspiracy movement is based on cryptic posts that started appearing on the anonymous messaging board 4chan in October 2017 -- later migrating to a similar site, 8kun -- by a user named "Q Clearance Patriot", who claims to be an American intelligence official with access to classified information.

Without proof, Q has said that a war is being waged by Donald Trump against the "deep state" and other elites, and his followers believe the US president is planning to go after his enemies -- including the satanist pedophile cabal.

The messages, called "Q drops", are then discussed and amplified on mainstream social media by adherents, some of whom have attempted to take matters into their own hands with threats of violence and murder, and even attempted assault and kidnapping.

The FBI has identified QAnon as among several conspiracy theories that could potentially lead to extremist violence.

But its pro-Trump followers have become increasingly visible, and have been regularly spotted at campaign rallies for the president.

Read also: Friends and Donald Trump Mourn Death of Right-Wing Supporter Shot in Portland

"I don't know much about the movement, other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate," Trump said in August, describing QAnon followers as "people who love our country".

Joe Biden, his challenger in the November election, said last month that the conspiracy theory was "totally bizarre... It's mortifying, it's embarrassing, and it's dangerous."

Social Media Whack-a-Mole

Social media giants, who had been grappling with QAnon in the United States well before the coronavirus pandemic, have now been forced to take even stronger measures as it has mushroomed into an international issue.

Their actions include tweaks to the recommendation algorithms that helped boost such content in the first place, according to tech analysts.

In recent months, hundreds of thousands of QAnon-related users, accounts, ads, and hashtags have been blocked or restricted on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

The firms all told AFP they have stepped up their vigilance. Some are especially monitoring for new hashtags and tweaked spellings meant to sneak past the filters.

But QAnon content is still rife online with the theories being fragmented and amplified by a bewildering array of powerful personalities who may not be fully aware of QAnon's most outrageous conspiracy theories.