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NEW: Facebook has failed to effectively crack down on militia and election conspiracies. Now, it's accelerating the growth of a new far-right movement.
For months, followers of the “Patriot Party" movement have been organizing and recruiting on Facebook. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
For months, followers of the “Patriot Party" movement have been organizing and recruiting on Facebook. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
An investigation by TTP found that months before Trump mentioned the "Patriot Party," his followers had already taken up that mantle on Facebook, forming an extensive array of “Patriot Party” groups and pages used to recruit militia and organize for rallies, including Jan. 6.
TTP identified 51 Facebook Groups and 85 Facebook Pages that include “Patriot Party” in their name or use iconography that’s come to be associated with the movement. Roughly two-thirds of the groups and more than half of the pages were created after the 2020 election.
The groups collectively had 90,420 members as of Jan. 20, & the pages had a total of 31,555 “likes.” Some of these groups quickly amassed large followings.
One group called “Patriot Party,” created on Jan. 17, gained 105,000 members in 8 days, before it was removed by Facebook.
One group called “Patriot Party,” created on Jan. 17, gained 105,000 members in 8 days, before it was removed by Facebook.
TTP found that 67% (34) of the Patriot Party Facebook groups were created after the 2020 election. Of those, 14 were created on or after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Nearly half—44% (37)—of the Patriot Party pages were also created on or after Jan. 6. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
Nearly half—44% (37)—of the Patriot Party pages were also created on or after Jan. 6. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
One post in the Facebook group ‘THE PATRIOT PARTY” on the evening of Jan 6, after the Capitol riot, declared “it’s time for good men to do Very Bad Things.”
The post generated hundreds of replies with comments like “locked and loaded” and “let the civil war begin.”
The post generated hundreds of replies with comments like “locked and loaded” and “let the civil war begin.”
One user even replied to the Patriot Party group post calling to "do very bad things" with martyrdom talk: “I’m ready to sacrifice my life.”
TTP recently found similar martyrdom rhetoric in a far-right group on Facebook, you can read that report here: https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/capitol-attack-was-months-making-facebook
TTP recently found similar martyrdom rhetoric in a far-right group on Facebook, you can read that report here: https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/capitol-attack-was-months-making-facebook
TTP found that Facebook’s algorithms recommend Patriot Party pages, likely contributing to the growth of the movement.
If TTP’s monitoring account “liked” a “Patriot Party” page, Facebook’s “Related Pages” feature often pointed to similar pages.
If TTP’s monitoring account “liked” a “Patriot Party” page, Facebook’s “Related Pages” feature often pointed to similar pages.
One of the pages identified by TTP even had a Facebook shop selling Patriot Party-branded merchandise
Facebook takes a fee for items sold through these in-platform shops in the U.S., meaning the company is profiting off the Patriot Party movement, which espouses violent rhetoric
Facebook takes a fee for items sold through these in-platform shops in the U.S., meaning the company is profiting off the Patriot Party movement, which espouses violent rhetoric
Since Jan. 20, when TTP conducted its initial count, Facebook has removed some of the Patriot Party groups and pages in a piecemeal fashion, but dozens of others remain active on the platform, including one that had posts for militia recruitment as recently as last night.
Facebook Patriot Party groups played a significant role in “Stop the Steal” rallies that culminated in the Capitol insurrection.
Pat King, host of “Patriot Party Podcast” and administrator of the Facebook group “Official Patriot Party," and organizer for "stop the steal" events.
Pat King, host of “Patriot Party Podcast” and administrator of the Facebook group “Official Patriot Party," and organizer for "stop the steal" events.
“Official Patriot Party,” a public Facebook group created on Nov. 13, laid out its mission, which included “providing ground support for MAGA Marches, coordinating events & support for Patriots...attending events. Guides, Escorts, Security, Lodging & Transportation.”
King's organizing for "stop the Steal" rallies involved a network of "patriot party" movement Facebook groups—all admin'd by King.
The groups were used to "host" Facebook events, where King mentioned he had even booked a Hilton rate for the Dec. 12 rally under "patriot party"
The groups were used to "host" Facebook events, where King mentioned he had even booked a Hilton rate for the Dec. 12 rally under "patriot party"
“Official Patriot Party” promoted other pro-Trump rallies, including the Jan. 6 event at the U.S. Capitol. Two days before the Capitol riot, some members of the Facebook group engaged in violent talk.
Others posted militia III% logos and comments about "need to do something big"
Others posted militia III% logos and comments about "need to do something big"
The most common "patriot party" iconography is lion’s head in a circular logo.
The icon has been linked to @splcenter-designated white nationalist group VDARE as well as the “Lion’s Guard," a self-styled "militia-style security force for attendees at Trump rallies"
The icon has been linked to @splcenter-designated white nationalist group VDARE as well as the “Lion’s Guard," a self-styled "militia-style security force for attendees at Trump rallies"
It's worth noting that the Lion’s Guard Facebook page, which describes itself in a pinned post as "Trump protection militia," is still active as of today at 10:30AM
In addition to using the now-"patriot Party" logo, it promotes a quote from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
In addition to using the now-"patriot Party" logo, it promotes a quote from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
The lion's head "patriot party" logo, which has been linked to white nationalism and "trump protection militia" was also featured on a flag at the Capitol insurrection
TTP found Capitol rioter Eric Munchel (aka “zip tie guy”) included the lion’s head logo on his Facebook profile
TTP found Capitol rioter Eric Munchel (aka “zip tie guy”) included the lion’s head logo on his Facebook profile
Patriot Party groups on Facebook have deep militia connections. Many of the administrators of these groups, as well as individual members, openly flaunt their association with militias, despite Facebook’s ban on “militarized social movements.”
For example, the admin for the group “Patriot movement of America” features the III%er logo in his Facebook profile.
The admin for the Facebook group “United Patriots of Arizona” expresses supports the Oath Keepers militia. (Oath Keepers members were charged in Jan 6 violence)
The admin for the Facebook group “United Patriots of Arizona” expresses supports the Oath Keepers militia. (Oath Keepers members were charged in Jan 6 violence)
One member of “United Patriots of Arizona,” in a Dec. 24 post, called for organizing a militia and running a training program with small security teams.
The user’s profile cover photo prominently features the flag of the boogaloo movement.
The user’s profile cover photo prominently features the flag of the boogaloo movement.
The threats continued after the insurrection. On Jan. 10, a user in the group “Official Patriot Party” targeted the inauguration, posting “HOW CAN WE STOP BIDEN FROM BEING SWORN IN??”
If the “Patriot Party” ever becomes a true political organization linked to Donald Trump, the movement’s militia-fueled origins would put it in similar company with European far-right groups that have established both political and paramilitary arms. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
In Ukraine, for example, the far-right militant Azov movement, which Facebook banned over a year ago, has remained on the platform
@ChristopherJM @BuzzFeedNews detailed in Nov. how Azov is continuing to use Facebook for organizing and spreading its ideas https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/neo-nazi-group-facebook
@ChristopherJM @BuzzFeedNews detailed in Nov. how Azov is continuing to use Facebook for organizing and spreading its ideas https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christopherm51/neo-nazi-group-facebook
The UK far-right group Britain First, which calls itself a “patriotic political party,” has been deemed a “pseudo-paramilitary group.”
Facebook banned Britain First in 2018 but @lizziedearden notes the group has been active on the platform since then https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/facebook-britain-first-page-far-right-advert-paul-golding-adverts-a8828386.html
Facebook banned Britain First in 2018 but @lizziedearden notes the group has been active on the platform since then https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/facebook-britain-first-page-far-right-advert-paul-golding-adverts-a8828386.html
Facebook has been slow to deal with the expanding “Patriot Party” movement on its platform, despite the fact that it fuses together anti-government militia activity and Trump-fueled election conspiracies—two things Facebook has promised to remove. https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/facebook-home-militant-patriot-party-movement
Taken together with the reporting from @JeffHorwitz @WSJ on Sunday, these pages and groups, and the posts they contain make clear Facebook made little effort to prioritize the militant activity festering and growing on its platform. https://twitter.com/JeffHorwitz/status/1356029577081065475?s=20
