The Moonshot Threat Bulletin – at a glance
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 monthly 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 January’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
January 2023 National Trends
Key Insights
Death of Atlanta protester Manuel Esteban Paez Terana sparks calls for reciprocal violence against the police. The “Cop City” death is prompting a further escalation in tensions in Atlanta and nationwide, with calls for the death of police officers observed in Anarchist spaces. In REMVE and harmful conspiracy spaces, violent threats are being directed towards anarchist communities perceived to be involved in the unrest, raising the possibility of ideological clashes between Anarchist and wider DVE audiences in relation to the Atlanta facility in the future.
Three mass shootings in California with Asian and Latino victims are leading to an increase in anti-Asian hate in January. Violent threats towards the Asian community increased by 14% this month, while the use of numerous anti-Asian slurs and phrases are also increasing. Conspiracy theories alleging Chinese involvement in these shootings are also being shared, including claims that the Chinese Community Party, or Chinese “sleeper cells”, are directly responsible.
The release of Tyre Nichols bodycam footage prompts highest daily threats against the Police in seven months. Nichol’s death is prompting a high volume of racist, anti-black sentiment, towards both Nichols and the police officers involved. Threats against the Black community recorded their highest daily peak in 2 months on January 28, the day after the footage was released. Those protesting Nichols’ death are also being met with extreme hostility in DVE spaces, with calls for protesters to be shot or run over.
Hostility towards the Black community is expected to increase in February. Black History Month is being celebrated across the U.S. in February. The month follows a period in which anti-Black sentiment has spiked following the release of police footage depicting the beating of Tyre Nichols, while generally, celebrations of minority culture and history are often associated with an increase in online hate and hostility.
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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.
