theglobeandmail.com
Nationwide Racist Text Messages Investigated
Racist text messages targeting Black Americans are under investigation by multiple agencies.
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Human Rights ViolationsUs PoliticsTechnologyGender IssuesInvestigationLaw EnforcementRacismHate Speech
FbiJustice DepartmentFccTextnowCtia
Jessica RosenworcelLiz MurrillAnthony BrownNicoleRobert Greene Ii
- How did the perpetrators likely target their victims?
- Experts suggest that the perpetrators likely used easily accessible personal data and bulk messaging services to target victims, exploiting gaps in text message regulation.
- What role did phone service providers play in this event?
- TextNow acknowledged that its service was used to send some of the messages and disabled the accounts responsible; other major providers are also cooperating with the investigation.
- Who was targeted by these messages and what was the impact?
- The messages targeted Black people of all ages, including children, causing significant distress and prompting concerns about the use of technology to spread hate.
- Which agencies are investigating the origin of these messages?
- The FBI, Justice Department, FCC, and several state attorneys general are investigating the origin and perpetrators of these messages, which used a VPN to mask their source.
- What type of messages were sent to Black Americans across the country?
- Racist text messages, invoking slavery and instructing recipients to board a bus to a plantation, were sent to Black Americans nationwide.