The Moonshot Threat Bulletin is designed to inform threat assessments for public safety professionals, analysts and decision-makers alike, who need to hone in on emerging trends faster and understand how developments online may translate to offline risk.

In this series, we provide a glimpse into the Threat Bulletin’s national trends analysis of online DVE spaces across the U.S. Our aim is to give a taste of the critical insights and coverage that the Threat Bulletin provides. 

This blog contains a short excerpt from April’s Moonshot Threat Bulletin. If you would like to access a one month free issue of the Threat Bulletin or discuss buying a subscription for your organization, please get in touch: threatbulletin@moonshotteam.com

Key Insights

April 2023: Threats against critical infrastructure

This month, in addition to our regular monitoring and analysis, we introduced a new section providing an assessment of notable threats towards critical infrastructure sectors identified in DVE spaces in April. Analysis covers direct threats and encouragement to violence, vandalism and disruption, in addition to tactical discussion and wider themes which impact the threat picture for critical infrastructure across the U.S. We will be further developing this area of analysis in the months ahead – so please get in touch if you’re interested in learning more.

Anti-technology publication outlines targeted action against energy infrastructure. The latest issue of “Anti-Tech Quarterly” – an online pamphlet that seeks to organize action against the “global techno-industrialist system” – discussed issues of hindering grid restoration in the case of energy outage. This included highlighting specific components vulnerable to physical and cyber attacks, including large power transformers and natural gas pipelines, as well as specific times of year in which different forms of infrastructure are most vulnerable.

Livestock conspiracy theory prompts threats against the food and agriculture sector. In April, DVE spaces featured high levels of conspiracy theories alleging that livestock is being given mRNA COVID-19 vaccines as a way of forcibly immunizing the population. These theories led to extreme responses, including calls to violent and harassing action against agriculture lobbyists, CEOs, government officials, and farmers.

April 2023: National DVE trends

Anti-transgender hostility sustained following the Nashville school shooting. April recorded the second highest volume of threats against these communities in the last six months. Almost half of these threats were leveled towards transgender communities. This recent uptick in anti-trans hostilities has followed a school shooting on March 27 in Nashville, Tennessee. Drawing on the shooter’s transgender identity, DVE actors are continuing to spread violent anti-trans hate in response to several different incidents and events. For instance, the arrest of a transgender teenager in Colorado on suspicion of planning a mass shooting is prompting continued allegations that transgender communities are “terrorists.” 

Armed conflict in Sudan sparks new biolabs conspiracy theory. On April 26, the World Health Organization warned of a “high risk biological hazard” after a laboratory in Khartoum, Sudan was seized by fighters during the ongoing conflict in the country. The event sparked the emergence of a new conspiracy theory: proponents claim that the lab in Khartoum is tied to physician-scientist Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and was being used to study how to weaponize viruses. 

Pentagon document leaker labeled a national hero in DVE spaces. Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira, was arrested as a suspect for a major Pentagon document leak on April 13. His arrest prompted strong response from DVE actors – in addition to the leaked documents continuing to circulate on DVE spaces, many users labeled Teixeira as a “national hero” and “wonderful patriot” for his work releasing classified information. Some also posted veiled threats of violence against those responsible for his apprehension, including law enforcement. 

The Moonshot Threat Bulletin provides an overview of the key events, themes and narratives discussed by audiences within online U.S.-based Domestic Violent Extremist (DVE) spaces, including:

• Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremism (REMVE)

• Anti-Government and Anti-Authority Violent Extremism (AGAAVE) (including Militia Violent Extremism, Sovereign Citizen Violent Extremism, and Anarchist Violent Extremism)
• Harmful Conspiracy Theories online. 

It also provides an assessment of violent hate, threats, and harassment trends online. 

The Threat Bulletin includes comprehensive coverage of both mainstream and niche platforms, including  Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Gab, Telegram, 4chan, Stormfront, Gettr, 8kun, TruthSocial, among others. 

The Threat Bulletin also monitors and forecasts future trends and events to watch across online DVE spaces. For more detailed insights and analysis, including geo-spatial assessments of DVE threats across the U.S., please get in touch: threatbulletin@moonshotteam.com.