Murph's year in review 🎉
I don't post often, but I do spend time tracking Nazis and reporting racism, antisemitism, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that causes real world harm. Twitter's becoming irrelevant, but I think we've done some good and made interesting discoveries.
1/33
I don't post often, but I do spend time tracking Nazis and reporting racism, antisemitism, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that causes real world harm. Twitter's becoming irrelevant, but I think we've done some good and made interesting discoveries.
1/33
2/33
In January we started very small, posting some tracking of serial harasser Dean Podesta of Plymouth aka "British Dean"
Thanks to efforts by many, Mr. Podesta received a court order forbidding him from operating social media. h/t @sundersays
In January we started very small, posting some tracking of serial harasser Dean Podesta of Plymouth aka "British Dean"
Thanks to efforts by many, Mr. Podesta received a court order forbidding him from operating social media. h/t @sundersays
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1482828594619592712
3/33
As Nazi data leaks rolled out in the beginning of 2022, I gathered a list of resources for anyone wanting to leave far right extremism.
Thank you to all of the researchers who have taken new data to identify the Nazis among us.
As Nazi data leaks rolled out in the beginning of 2022, I gathered a list of resources for anyone wanting to leave far right extremism.
Thank you to all of the researchers who have taken new data to identify the Nazis among us.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1485970953280671745
4/33
Most of the work we've done involved tracking far right suspensions. The way Twitter picks accounts for ban waves sometimes seems like a mystery, but we did discover that nearly an entire Nazi follower list got hit in January.
Most of the work we've done involved tracking far right suspensions. The way Twitter picks accounts for ban waves sometimes seems like a mystery, but we did discover that nearly an entire Nazi follower list got hit in January.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1481379742339190786
5/33
There has been a very obvious trend of astroturfing with Nazi gimmick accounts. We took a moment to look at the growth of @BasedWomMoments with low-follower and no-follower accounts before the account was nuked.
There has been a very obvious trend of astroturfing with Nazi gimmick accounts. We took a moment to look at the growth of @BasedWomMoments with low-follower and no-follower accounts before the account was nuked.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1516156898004938752
6/33
After the initial Elon Musk announcement in April, we kept note of some of the specific accounts that showed back up. Elon didn't have control yet, and these were promptly resuspended.
After the initial Elon Musk announcement in April, we kept note of some of the specific accounts that showed back up. Elon didn't have control yet, and these were promptly resuspended.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1518883330833403904
7/33
Always keeping our eyes peeled for reportables on large hate accounts, Sam Hyde finally lost his account in April.
Always keeping our eyes peeled for reportables on large hate accounts, Sam Hyde finally lost his account in April.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1520298114468487168
8/33
We also took notice of one of our "regular" trolls going offline... it turned out that the teenager, who was regularly in contact with adult nazis and members of The Shed, was arrested for domestic terrorism.
We also took notice of one of our "regular" trolls going offline... it turned out that the teenager, who was regularly in contact with adult nazis and members of The Shed, was arrested for domestic terrorism.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1519780281800081408
9/33
In May we were happy to help dig out a long list of accounts belonging to the formerly anonymous Nazi troll "Fedposter," identified this year by the researchers of @SunlightAFA.
In May we were happy to help dig out a long list of accounts belonging to the formerly anonymous Nazi troll "Fedposter," identified this year by the researchers of @SunlightAFA.
https://twitter.com/SunlightAFA/status/1528735978118164480
10/33
After numerous shootings in the middle of the year we took a moment to reflect on how that violence starts via radicalization from places like Twitter.
I was more optimistic about the trajectory of Twitter at that point, but after Musk not so much.
After numerous shootings in the middle of the year we took a moment to reflect on how that violence starts via radicalization from places like Twitter.
I was more optimistic about the trajectory of Twitter at that point, but after Musk not so much.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1545185054384537600
11/33
This summer seemed to be a prime time for the far right to shift their hatred to LGBTQ people. We kept tabs on Kelly Neidert, Jake Neidert, and the Protect TX Kids accounts as they all inevitably got themselves suspended for hatred and violence.
This summer seemed to be a prime time for the far right to shift their hatred to LGBTQ people. We kept tabs on Kelly Neidert, Jake Neidert, and the Protect TX Kids accounts as they all inevitably got themselves suspended for hatred and violence.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1538313706400059393
12/33
We kept tabs on Elijah Schaffer throughout the past couple years as he shifted from posting Nazi dogwhistles to outright Nazi propaganda.
We kept tabs on Elijah Schaffer throughout the past couple years as he shifted from posting Nazi dogwhistles to outright Nazi propaganda.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1556126397462110208
13/33
In August we watched a swarm of fake racist Asian accounts operated by Nazis and documented their existence on the platform.
In August we watched a swarm of fake racist Asian accounts operated by Nazis and documented their existence on the platform.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1554086652896858114
14/33
This work was cited as part of the study on anti-Asian disinformation on social media by the Asian American Disinformation Table.
Read the 2022 report here:
asianamdisinfo.org/wp-content/upl…
This work was cited as part of the study on anti-Asian disinformation on social media by the Asian American Disinformation Table.
Read the 2022 report here:
asianamdisinfo.org/wp-content/upl…
15/33
As the Kiwi Farms wars rolled on, we took a moment to dive into the Twitter accounts associated with Joshua Moon aka "Null" and Kiwi Farms.
Yes, we confirmed, Josh Moon is a Nazi.
As the Kiwi Farms wars rolled on, we took a moment to dive into the Twitter accounts associated with Joshua Moon aka "Null" and Kiwi Farms.
Yes, we confirmed, Josh Moon is a Nazi.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1564905580233478150
16/33
We also helped keep an eye on White Lives Matter accounts on Twitter who were posting Nazi content.
Many are now suspended, thank you all for helping report them.
We also helped keep an eye on White Lives Matter accounts on Twitter who were posting Nazi content.
Many are now suspended, thank you all for helping report them.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1564668591961686020
17/33
In September we finally released a collection of over 9000 ban evasion accounts suspended by Twitter, to include trolls from "The Shed."
These users were tracked over several years due to the severity of abuse.
In September we finally released a collection of over 9000 ban evasion accounts suspended by Twitter, to include trolls from "The Shed."
These users were tracked over several years due to the severity of abuse.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1570832379543179264
18/33
And, for most of the past year, all of the top offenders from that collection have remained suspended, have promptly been resuspended, or have rebranded and behaved themselves.
We continue to report these accounts down as they reappear.
And, for most of the past year, all of the top offenders from that collection have remained suspended, have promptly been resuspended, or have rebranded and behaved themselves.
We continue to report these accounts down as they reappear.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1570832408861343745
19/33
I've generally tried to keep tabs on some of the worst accounts and hubs for the alt right, and we've seen some big ones get knocked out that are mostly still suspended.
Good riddance.
I've generally tried to keep tabs on some of the worst accounts and hubs for the alt right, and we've seen some big ones get knocked out that are mostly still suspended.
Good riddance.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586663265320460288
20/33
Promptly after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, the worst of the worst started returning to the platform. Here are some of the mini threads I posted before these respawns got resuspended.
Hi there, "Alt Skull" aka Shawn Deats.
Promptly after Elon Musk acquired Twitter, the worst of the worst started returning to the platform. Here are some of the mini threads I posted before these respawns got resuspended.
Hi there, "Alt Skull" aka Shawn Deats.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586314666610786304
21/33
And hello, Anthime Joseph "Tim" Gionet aka Baked Alaska.
I'll add this recent receipt to it for now; amnesty does not mean immunity.
And hello, Anthime Joseph "Tim" Gionet aka Baked Alaska.
I'll add this recent receipt to it for now; amnesty does not mean immunity.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586223582518153219
22/33
We said hello again to "Violet" aka Renee Baum Griffin, League of the South. She's always lurking but got bold enough to post her face again. That was a mistake.
We said hello again to "Violet" aka Renee Baum Griffin, League of the South. She's always lurking but got bold enough to post her face again. That was a mistake.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586200145318023170
23/33
Many LOS figures popped back up and promptly lost accounts again. We took a moment to wave hello to Robert "Bob" Isaacs aka Ike Baker.
Many LOS figures popped back up and promptly lost accounts again. We took a moment to wave hello to Robert "Bob" Isaacs aka Ike Baker.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586145469264146432
24/33
And dug out a couple new selfies for antisemitic troll "Commish" aka AJ Esposito aka Albert Anthony Esposito Jr.
I don't think he should be working with children again, ever.
And dug out a couple new selfies for antisemitic troll "Commish" aka AJ Esposito aka Albert Anthony Esposito Jr.
I don't think he should be working with children again, ever.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586166298106793984
25/33
We said hi, and then bye, to Nazi Tony Hovater when he showed his face on here for a few minutes.
We said hi, and then bye, to Nazi Tony Hovater when he showed his face on here for a few minutes.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586127692927156224
26/33
QAnon supporters are trying to crawl back, but it is a slow process and most can't help but get themselves resuspended. Darth Crypto aka Jesse Feinberg lost his respawn account.
QAnon supporters are trying to crawl back, but it is a slow process and most can't help but get themselves resuspended. Darth Crypto aka Jesse Feinberg lost his respawn account.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1586119747204452352
27/33
We took a second to point out that the "MAGA Communism" thing that was showing up everywhere for the past few months was actually just... National Socialism.
Nazism.
We took a second to point out that the "MAGA Communism" thing that was showing up everywhere for the past few months was actually just... National Socialism.
Nazism.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1594267033486639107
28/33
Sadly, during the week of Thanksgiving, Elon Musk suspended whistleblower and antiracist activist @chadloder right after they had reported on an additional Twitter data breach that affected millions of users.
Sadly, during the week of Thanksgiving, Elon Musk suspended whistleblower and antiracist activist @chadloder right after they had reported on an additional Twitter data breach that affected millions of users.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1596161039460339712
29/33
The end of the year took a more solemn turn as Elon Musk took more suspension requests from Nazi sympathizers.
Although some journalists were reinstated, most far-right researchers were not.
Free @chadloder @IGD_News @VPS_Reports !
+ others :(
The end of the year took a more solemn turn as Elon Musk took more suspension requests from Nazi sympathizers.
Although some journalists were reinstated, most far-right researchers were not.
Free @chadloder @IGD_News @VPS_Reports !
+ others :(
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1596204487215312896
30/33
On the plus side, we've recently seen Nazi resuspensions and much whining by members of the NJP, TRS, and full articles of tears on The Justice Report.
Daddy Elon isn't going to save you, either.
On the plus side, we've recently seen Nazi resuspensions and much whining by members of the NJP, TRS, and full articles of tears on The Justice Report.
Daddy Elon isn't going to save you, either.
31/33
For those remaining on the platform, I've put together a list of blocking tools.
Twitter is not a level playing field. It is a game in which the right abuses the pretext of free speech to abuse others.
Blocking is self care.
For those remaining on the platform, I've put together a list of blocking tools.
Twitter is not a level playing field. It is a game in which the right abuses the pretext of free speech to abuse others.
Blocking is self care.
https://twitter.com/murphtracks/status/1600069516007907328
32/33
And, honestly, not being on Twitter is also self care.
For those who have migrated to Mastodon, you can find me at @murphtracks@mstdn.social.
Give the Movetodon and Debirdify apps a try.
And, honestly, not being on Twitter is also self care.
For those who have migrated to Mastodon, you can find me at @murphtracks@mstdn.social.
Give the Movetodon and Debirdify apps a try.
33/33
I'm incredibly grateful for all of the amazing friends I have made on here who do incredible work behind the scenes. It takes the effort of many to do what we have accomplished, and I'm proud to know you.
Happy New Year, wishing the best to all.
I'm incredibly grateful for all of the amazing friends I have made on here who do incredible work behind the scenes. It takes the effort of many to do what we have accomplished, and I'm proud to know you.
Happy New Year, wishing the best to all.
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