Twitter says it's cracking down on QAnon conspiracy theory

Twitter said it would crack down on accounts and content related to QAn, far-right U.S. conspiracy ory popular among supporters of President Donald Trump.

measures include banning accounts associated with QAn content, as well as blocking URLs associated with it from being shared on platform. Twitter also said that it would stop highlighting and recommending tweets associated with QAn.

“We’ve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has potential to le to offline harm,” company said in a tweet.

Accounts that are “engd in violations of our multi-account policy, coordinating abuse around individual victims, or are attempting to eve a previous suspension” will be suspended permanently, according to Twitter.

QAn conspiracy ory is centered on baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in “deep state” and a child sex trafficking ring run by satanic pedophiles and cannibals. For more than two years, followers have pored over tangled clues purportedly posted online by a high-ranking government official kwn only as “Q.”

conspiracy ory emerged in a dark corner of internet but has been creeping into mainstream political arena. Trump has retweeted QAn-promoting accounts and its followers flock to his rallies wearing clos and hats with QAn symbols and slogans.

Twitter’s move follows in footsteps of Facebook, which in May also removed several groups, accounts and ps against QAn.

(Im credit: AP)