Conservative extremism was already a growing issue. But the pandemic has actually made it that much worse.
When Donald Trump informed US-based white supremacist group the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by”, right-wing extremists in Australia were listening.
Groups such as Reclaim Australia and The Lads Society– which are highly influenced by Trumpist rhetoric– have actually always been monitored by security companies, but the scope of their impact has actually been unclear.
Today’s launch of a landmark research study, Mapping Networks and Narratives of Online Right-Wing Extremists in New South Wales, changes that.
Published by Macquarie and Victoria Universities, the report uses data from social media platforms to mark a network of online communities which radicalise people and introduce extreme rhetoric into Australian politics.
On unregulated platforms such as Gab, Reddit, 4chan and 8chan/kun, along with the poorly-moderated Facebook and twitter, there is a plethora of messages promoting violence, the report found. However, the real risk of violence was difficult to distinguish from paradoxical and overstated posts.
” We understand that people with violent intents exist on these platforms. This environment is full of bragging, irony, and dream, meaning identification of violent risks is challenging,” the report states.
Right-wing extremists are defined by the researchers as communities and individuals dedicated to an extreme social, political, or ideological position that is pro-white identity and actively suspicious of non-white others.
In these social networks echo chambers, anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic messaging and far-right conspiracy theories such as QAnon are utilized to recruit and engage users.
QAnon was the significant impact on the Christchurch terrorist who live-streamed the deadly shooting of 51 worshippers at two mosques in2019
The dangers of these stories are that, as well as cultivating violent extremism, they serve to “polarise political dispute and weaken trust in organizations and democracy,” say research study authors Dr Julian Droogan, Dr Brian Ballsun-Stanton and Lise Waldek.
COVID-19, of course, has made everything much even worse. Right-wing extremists have been making use of the worry about the infection by promoting conspiracy theories and false information.
” Conspiracy theories regularly play an important role in the development of extremism through the development of crisis stories. These stories use people a structure to recognize an opponent that can be held responsible which needs decisive actions versus so regarding secure the followers from damage,” the report says.
For example, individuals who are nervous about utilizing vaccines are informed that pharmaceutical business remain in the pocket of politicians and are for that reason part of a powerful cabal, Droogan says. Thinking this provides people a sense of agency in a time of crisis and an explanation for acts such as refusing a vaccine.
In 1996, One Country’s Pauline Hanson referred to Australia being ” swamped by Asians”
With less than four weeks left till the United States election, the extremist language on these social networks platforms will just get worse. Just Recently, Donald Trump tweeted a conspiracy theory about ballot scams, fuelling fears he will refuse to stand down if he loses.
” THE MEDIA IS CORRUPT, JUST LIKE OUR DEMOCRAT-RUN BALLOT SYSTEM IS CORRUPT.
About the Author
Sydney-based freelance journalist
Margot Saville practiced as an attorney for one year prior to ending up being a journalist in1987 She has actually worked at The Australian, ABC Television, the 9 Network and The Sydney Early Morning Herald
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