Facebook sees uptick in Proud Boys content after presidential debate
The content included memes featuring Trumps instructions to the group to stand back and stand by, said Brian Fishman, who directs Facebooks team handling counterterrorism and dangerous organizations.
During the debate, Trump deflected an opportunity to denounce white supremacists and militia groups amid violence that has marred some protests against racism and police brutality in multiple U.S.
Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, Trump said, before immediately pivoting: But Ill tell you what, somebodys got to do something about antifa, he said, referencing the largely unstructured, anti-fascist movement that broadly aims to confront those it views as authoritarian or racist.
Extremism experts warned the presidents response could embolden Proud Boys supporters, who promptly circulated memes quoting the presidents words on various social networks.
Most of the content Facebook identified on Wednesday condemned the Proud Boys and Trumps comments about them, but the company was removing any posts it found that praised the group, Fishman said.
Still, the worlds biggest social network failed to catch organizers publicizing a rally in Portland earlier this month, which went on for weeks before it was spotted by the Tech Transparency Project, an outside watchdog group.
On Wednesday, Trump supporters in Facebook Groups - which the company has promoted heavily this year, despite concerns about the difficulty of moderating those spaces - defended the Proud Boys and accused left-wing protesters of being domestic terrorists.
On Facebook, a group called Refuse Fascism that organizes nationwide protests characterized the presidents words as bullying, lie-filled fascist assault and accused the Proud Boys of being fascist thugs.
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