(New York, N.Y.) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) reports weekly on the methods used by extremists to exploit the Internet and social media platforms to recruit followers and incite violence. Last week, white supremacist Telegram channels promoted alternate communications platforms due to Telegram’s ongoing, but limited, crackdown on extreme right chats and media. Additionally, a website that is supportive of the neo-Nazi group, the National Socialist Order, and its founder James Mason, requested Bitcoin donations, claiming that it would be used for site maintenance, audiovisual equipment for Mason’s homemade videos, and for setting up an online store. Also, multiple neo-Nazi and white supremacist Telegram users expressed their anger over the arrest of an Austrian neo-Nazi rapper named “Mr. Bond” who was charged with “producing and broadcasting Nazi ideas and incitement to hatred.”
Meanwhile, ISIS-affiliated Amaq News released two videos – one video claiming to show the bombing of a bus carrying Syrian Army troops near Raqqa, Syria and another claiming to show an IED attack on a vehicle belonging to the Afghan government in Jalalabad.
Finally, the website for a media project associated with the white supremacist group, Rise Above Movement, posted an online privacy guide urging readers to use a password manager, communicate via encryption platforms such as Signal, Telegram, Element, Threema, or Dust, and to use safe web browsers that do not resell data.
White Supremacist Telegram Users Promote Alternate Platforms
White supremacist Telegram channels are promoting alternate communications platforms due to Telegram’s ongoing, but limited, crackdown on extreme right chats and media. Channel admins have already endorsed backups on Matrix and more recently encouraged users to consider the encrypted communications platforms Tox and Retroshare. The post stated that decentralized platforms are best so that media and law enforcement would not pressure companies to remove content. The same post also stated that Gab, Parler, and Discord could not be trusted. A channel dedicated to operations and information security urged users to spread content via the peer-to-peer network IPFS.
Pro-National Socialist Order Website Dedicated to James Mason Solicits Bitcoin Donations
A website that supports the National Socialist Order and is dedicated to spreading James Mason’s work requested Bitcoin donations on February 3. The post claims that donations would be used for site maintenance, but any additional money would be spent on audiovisual equipment for Mason’s homemade videos or setting up an online store. Five days later, the Bitcoin account had accumulated approximately $13.50.
The site recently posted an essay advocating that their readers train with friends, practice “hit and run tactics,” and advocating decentralized organizing. The site also posted resources for 3D printed firearms earlier in January.
The website contains writings by several former members of the Atomwaffen Division and current National Socialist order members. Site authors include AWD’s co-founder Brandon Russell, who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for possession of explosives, and a pseudonym for John Cameron Denton. Both Russel and Denton’s pseudonym are listed as “staff” for the website. The site maintains a Gab account and uses Cloudflare as its name server and Epik as its registrar.
Donation call on neo-Nazi website
Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists Lament Arrest of Austrian Neo-Nazi Rapper
Multiple neo-Nazi and white supremacist Telegram users expressed their anger over the arrest of an Austrian neo-Nazi rapper who used the name “Mr. Bond.” The arrest of the 36-year-old man from Carinthia was first reported by Austrian media on Tuesday, February 2. According to Austrian authorities, the accused is charged with “producing and broadcasting Nazi ideas and incitement to hatred,” and it is also alleged that he translated the Christchurch terrorist’s manifesto into German. Mr. Bond’s music was played during the live stream of the October 2019 Halle Attack.
Telegram users posted mp3s of his music and links to websites that hosted it. One channel approvingly stated that Mr. Bond had helped introduce large numbers of people to national socialism, anti-Semitism, and racism. Other users, including a neo-Nazi channel dedicated to operations and information security, which has previously called for violence, stated that the arrest was a teachable moment for improving online security.
The Nordic Resistance Movement posted a podcast paying tribute to the musician on their website and the Spreaker platform, claiming that he was a fan of the podcast. The podcast additionally praised Nazi Germany and condemned the “Jewish (stock) market.”
ISIS Affiliated Amaq News Videos Located on Several Websites
On February 1, ISIS-affiliated Amaq News released a video claiming to show the bombing of a bus carrying Syrian Army troops near Raqqa, Syria. Links to the video were spread via RocketChat and Hoop. The video was posted on at least 12 websites: Pcloud, File.Fm, SendVid, Tune.Pk, Streamable, PixelDrain, Top4Top, Mail.Ru, the Microsoft One Drive, the Internet Archive, MediaFire, and Mega.Nz. Three days later the video was still available on three websites: Top4Top, the Internet Archive, and MediaFire.
Another Amaq video, also released on February 1, claimed to show an IED attack on a vehicle belonging to the Afghan government in Jalalabad. Links to the video were spread via RocketChat and Hoop. The video was posted on at least 11 websites: Pcloud, File.Fm, SendVid, Tune.Pk, Streamable, PixelDrain, Top4Top, Mail.Ru, MediaFire, the Internet Archive, and Mega.Nz. Three days late the video was still available on four websites: Top4Top, Mail.Ru, MediaFire, and the Internet Archive.
Rise Above Movement Affiliated Website Publishes Online Privacy Guide
The website for a media project associated with the white supremacist Rise Above Movement posted an online privacy guide on February 1. The guide urges readers to use a password manager, use encrypted communications platforms such as Signal, Telegram, Element, Threema, or Dust, and to use safe web browsers that do not resell data.