Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

QAnon

2018-07-17T19:16:26Z

Rap Chart Mike: Changed my mind, just removing the empty section instead

{{pp-protected|expiry=00:54, 22 September 2018|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}

'''QAnon''' refers to a [[conspiracy theory]] based on '''Q''', an [[online handle]] used on several [[image board]]s by a presumably [[Americans|American]]<ref name="nymag" /> pseudonymous individual or group of individuals<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-q-phenomenon_2581642.html|title=The 'Q' Phenomenon|last=Philipp|first=Joshua|date=July 2, 2018|work=The Epoch Times|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/suspect-in-hoover-dam-standoff-writes-trump-cites-conspiracy-in-letters/|title=Suspect in Hoover Dam standoff writes Trump, cites conspiracy in letters|last=Brean|first=Henry|date=July 13, 2018|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US|issn=1097-1645}}</ref> claiming to have access to classified information involving the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] and its opponents in the [[United States]], and detailing a supposed secret counter-coup against the alleged "[[Deep state in the United States|deep state]]".

The [[conspiracy theory]], mainly popularized by supporters of U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] under the names ''The Storm'' and ''The Great Awakening'', has been widely characterized as "baseless"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/roseanne-barr-terrible-tweets-racist-abc-stays-silent-0bfe7cdc7996/|title=ABC cancels Roseanne Barr’s show after she posts racist, conspiratorial tweets|last=Rupar|first=Aaron|date=May 29, 2018|work=ThinkProgress|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jerome-corsi-man-who-shot-himself-outside-white-house-could-be-mk-ultra-test-subject/|title=Jerome Corsi: Man Who Shot Himself Outside White House Could Be ‘MK Ultra’ Test Subject|last=Holt|first=Jared|date=March 6, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and "unhinged".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2018/05/29/roseanne-ruined-roseanne/|title=Roseanne Ruined 'Roseanne'|last=Di Placido|first=Dani|date=May 29, 2018|work=Forbes|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en|issn=0015-6914}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/rosanne-barr-promotes-pro-trump-conspiracy-theory-d52a65887183/|title=Roseanne Barr promotes an unhinged pro-Trump conspiracy theory on Twitter|last=Culp-Ressler|first=Tara|date=March 31, 2018|work=ThinkProgress|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Prominent adherents to the conspiracy theory include [[Roseanne Barr]],<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> [[Curt Schilling]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/curt-schilling-backs-pro-trump-qanon-conspiracy-theory|title=Curt Schilling Backs Pro-Trump ‘QAnon’ Conspiracy Theory|last=Sommer|first=Will|date=June 26, 2018|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en}}</ref> [[Ben Garrison]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/a-new-wave-of-qanon-activists-emerge-from-the-cult-of-maga/|title=A New Wave Of ‘QAnon’ Activists Emerge From The Cult Of MAGA|last=Holt|first=Jared|date=July 9, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 13, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Laura Loomer]],<ref name=":4" /> [[Cheryl Sullenger]]<ref name=":2" /> and [[Lionel (radio personality)|Michael "Lionel" Lebron]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=995277257466896385|user=LionelNation|title=I'm a Proud Dedicated #QAnon Believer|author=The Lionel Nation|author-link=Lionel (radio personality)|date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

==History==
===Origin===
A person identifying as "Q Clearance Patriot" first appeared on the [[/pol/]] board of [[4chan]] on October 28, 2017, posting messages in a thread entitled "Calm Before the Storm",<ref name="nymag">{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/12/qanon-4chan-the-storm-conspiracy-explained.html|title=The Storm Is the New Pizzagate — Only Worse|last=Martineau|first=Paris|date=December 19, 2017|work=New York Magazine|access-date=March 26, 2018|issn=0028-7369}}</ref> which was a reference to Trump's cryptic description of a gathering of military leaders as "the calm before the storm".<ref name="nymag" /><ref name="newsweek" /> The poster later moved to [[8chan]], citing alleged security concerns.<ref name=":5" />

The handle implied that the anonymous poster held [[Q clearance]],<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/theres-a-new-insane-conspiracy-theory-tearing-up-4chan-1821432397|title=There's a new, insane conspiracy theory tearing up 4chan|last=Colburn|first=Randall|date=December 19, 2017|work=AV Club}}</ref><ref name="ibt" /> a [[United States Department of Energy]] [[security clearance]] with access to classified information.

===False claims===
{{Expand section|date=July 2018}}
QAnon's posting campaign has a history of false, baseless and unsubstantiated claims. For example, QAnon has claimed on multiple occasions that [[North Korea|North Korean]] [[List of leaders of North Korea|Supreme Leader]] [[Kim Jong-un]] is a [[puppet ruler]] installed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ywex8v/what-is-qanon-conspiracy-theory|title=A Guide to QAnon, the New King of Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories|last=Caffier|first=Justin|date=June 12, 2018|work=Vice|access-date=July 15, 2018|language=en-us|issn=1077-6788}}</ref>

On February 16, 2018, QAnon falsely accused [[U.S. Representative]] and former [[Democratic National Committee]] chairwoman [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]] of hiring [[El Salvador]]ian gang [[MS-13]] to murder DNC staffer [[Seth Rich]].<ref name="newsweek" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/qanon-the-storm/|title=The QAnon Conspiracy Is the Oldest Scam Out There|last=Rothschild|first=Mike|date=March 19, 2018|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Identity==
There has been much speculation regarding the motive and the identity of the poster, with theories ranging from the poster being a military intelligence officer to the posting campaign being an [[alternate reality game]] by [[Cicada 3301]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/who-is-q-anon/|title=Who is Q Anon, the internet's most mysterious poster?|last=Rothschild|first=Mike|date=May 29, 2018|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reactions==
[[Fox News]] commentator [[Sean Hannity]] has tweeted about QAnon, and the Russian government-funded network [[RT News]] has discussed the topic.<ref name=ibt>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/what-storm-conspiracy-theory-that-mysterious-white-house-official-qanon-leaking-secrets-1655194|title=What is The Storm? Conspiracy theory that mysterious White House official leaks secrets|first=Kashmira|last=Gander|date=January 15, 2018|work=International Business Times}}</ref>

The conspiracy theory was initially promoted by [[Alex Jones]] and [[Jerome Corsi]],<ref name="newsweek">{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/how-storm-biggest-fake-news-story-796725|title=How 'the Storm' Became the Biggest Fake News Story of 2018|last=Hayden|first=Michael Edison|date=February 1, 2018|work=Newsweek|issn=0028-9604|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> but in May 2018 [[Right Wing Watch]] reported that Jones and Corsi had ceased to support QAnon, declaring the source to now be "completely compromised".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/stick-a-fork-in-qanon-alex-jones-and-jerome-corsi-claim-that-qanon-has-been-completely-compromised/|title=Stick A Fork In QAnon: Alex Jones And Jerome Corsi Claim That QAnon Has Been ‘Completely Compromised’|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=May 11, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2018, [[Reddit]] banned one of its communities discussing QAnon, /r/CBTS_Stream, for "encouraging or inciting violence and posting personal and confidential information". Following this, some followers moved to [[Discord (software)|Discord]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/15/17123964/reddit-discord-server-bans-cbts-uncensored-news|title=How closely do Discord and Reddit work together?|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=March 15, 2018|website=Polygon|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/reddit-bans-r-cbts_stream/|title=Reddit bans popular deep state conspiracy forum for 'inciting violence'|first=Andrew|last=Wyrich|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 13, 2018, [[Operation Rescue (Kansas)|Operation Rescue]] vice president and pro-life activist [[Cheryl Sullenger]] referred to QAnon as a "small group of insiders close to President Donald J. Trump" and called his internet postings the "highest level of intelligence to ever be dropped publicly in our known history".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/operation-rescue-hypes-qanon-blockbuster-intel-drop-about-planned-parenthood/|title=Operation Rescue Hypes QAnon ‘Blockbuster Intel Drop’ About Planned Parenthood|last=Blue|first=Miranda|date=March 15, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.operationrescue.org/archives/blockbuster-intel-drop-reveals-trump-is-trying-to-end-planned-parenthood-twitter-attempts-censorship/|title=Blockbuster Intel Drop Reveals Trump is Trying to “End” Planned Parenthood – Twitter Attempts Censorship|date=March 13, 2018|first=Cheryl|last=Sullenger|author-link=Cheryl Sullenger|work=Operation Rescue|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 15, 2018, [[Kiev]]-based ''[[:uk:Рабочая газета|Rabochaya Gazeta]]'', the official newspaper of the [[Communist Party of Ukraine]], published an article calling QAnon a "military intelligence group".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://rg.kiev.ua/page5/article41143|title=Доживают ли Гавайи свои последние дни?|last=Gamma|first=Viktor|date=May 25, 2018|work=Rabochaya Gazeta|access-date=July 5, 2018|trans-title=Are we witnessing the final days of Hawaii?|lang=ru}}</ref>

On March 31, 2018, U.S. actress [[Roseanne Barr]] appeared to promote the conspiracy theory, which was subsequently covered by [[CNN]], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', and ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/31/politics/roseanne-barr-conspiracy-tweets/index.html|title=Roseanne tweets support of Trump conspiracy theory, confuses Twitter|last=Cole|first=Devan|work=CNN|access-date=April 1, 2018|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/31/the-conspiracy-theory-behind-a-curious-roseanne-barr-tweet-explained/|title=Analysis {{!}} The conspiracy theory behind a curious Roseanne Barr tweet, explained|last=Weigel|first=David|author-link=David Weigel|date=March 31, 2018|work=Washington Post|access-date=April 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/media/381123-roseanne-barr-faces-social-media-backlash-over-trump-conspiracy-theory-tweet |title= Roseanne Barr faces backlash over Trump conspiracy theory tweet |last=Bowden |first= Tohn |work= The Hill |access-date=March 31, 2018|date=March 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/opinion/qanon-trump-conspiracy-theory.html|title=Opinion {{!}} The Conspiracy Theory That Says Trump Is a Genius|date=April 6, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 6, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|first=Michelle|last=Goldberg|author-link=Michelle Goldberg}}</ref>

On June 26, 2018, [[WikiLeaks]] publicly accused QAnon of "leading anti-establishment Trump voters to embrace regime change and neo-conservatism".<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1011441579565953025|user=wikileaks|title=Why is "Qanon" leading anti-establishment Trump voters to embrace regime change and neo-conservatism?|author=WikiLeaks|author-link=WikiLeaks|date=June 26, 2016}}</ref> QAnon had previously pushed for regime change in Iran.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/pro-trump-conspiracy-monger-qanon-calls-for-regime-change-in-iran/244686/|title=Pro-Trump Conspiracy-Monger “QAnon” Calls for Regime Change in Iran|last=Webb|first=Whitney|date=June 25, 2018|work=MintPress News|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Two days later, the whistleblower organization shared an analysis by [[Internet Party (New Zealand)|Internet Party]] president Suzie Dawson, claiming that QAnon's posting campaign is an "intelligence agency-backed [[Psychological warfare|psyop]]" aiming to "round up people that are otherwise dangerous to the Deep State (because they are genuinely opposed to it) [and] usurp time & attention, & trick them into serving its aims".<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1000795757983780865|user=wikileaks|title=
This analysis, unfortunately, increasingly appears that it may be correct:|author=WikiLeaks|author-link=WikiLeaks|date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>

On June 28, 2018, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]'' listed the anonymous "Q" among the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018. Counting more than 130,000 related discussion videos on YouTube, ''Time'' cited the wide range of this conspiracy theory and its more prominent followers and spreading news coverage.<ref name="timemag">{{cite news |url=http://time.com/5324130/most-influential-internet/ |title=25 Most Influential People on the Internet|issn=0040-781X |last=Chan |first=Melissa |date=June 28, 2018 |work=Time |access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref>

On July 4, 2018, the [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] shared "a popular YouTube guide to QAnon" on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, and called QAnon a "mysterious anonymous inside leaker of deep state activities and counter activities by President Trump".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/16/conspiracy-theorist-qanon-promoted-then-deleted-by-hillsborough-county-gop/|title=Conspiracy theorist QAnon promoted, then deleted, by Hillsborough County GOP|last=March|first=William|date=July 16, 2018|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 16, 2018|issn=2327-9052}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/07/15/gop-twitter-account-helping-spread-baseless-internet-conspiracy-theory-qanon/220677|title=A GOP Twitter account is helping spread the baseless internet conspiracy theory QAnon|last=López G.|first=Cristina|date=July 15, 2018|work=Media Matters for America|access-date=July 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

On July 16, 2018, [[NBC News]] reported that an app promoting the conspiracy theory was the {{Ordinal|10}} most popular paid app on the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]], noting it ranked first in the "entertainment" section. The app was pulled from the online store after an inquiry from NBC News.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/exclusive-apple-google-cashed-pizzagate-offshoot-conspiracy-app-n891726|title=Exclusive: Apple, Google cashed in on Pizzagate-offshoot conspiracy app|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=July 16, 2018|work=NBC News|access-date=July 16, 2018|last2=Zadrozny|first2=Brandy|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons}}
* [[Pizzagate conspiracy theory]]
* [[Murder of Seth Rich]]
* [[Operation Mockingbird]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Conspiracy theories}}

[[Category:Unidentified people]]
[[Category:Anonymous bloggers]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States]]
[[Category:2017 controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:Fringe theories]]
[[Category:4chan phenomena]]
[[Category:Classified information in the United States]]
[[Category:Internet manipulation and propaganda]]
[[Category:Psychological warfare]]
[[Category:Propaganda in the United States]]
[[Category:Satanic ritual abuse hysteria in the United States]]

QAnon

2018-07-17T19:15:42Z

Rap Chart Mike: Moving material from lead into background section

{{pp-protected|expiry=00:54, 22 September 2018|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}

'''QAnon''' refers to a [[conspiracy theory]] based on '''Q''', an [[online handle]] used on several [[image board]]s by a presumably [[Americans|American]]<ref name="nymag" /> pseudonymous individual or group of individuals<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-q-phenomenon_2581642.html|title=The 'Q' Phenomenon|last=Philipp|first=Joshua|date=July 2, 2018|work=The Epoch Times|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/suspect-in-hoover-dam-standoff-writes-trump-cites-conspiracy-in-letters/|title=Suspect in Hoover Dam standoff writes Trump, cites conspiracy in letters|last=Brean|first=Henry|date=July 13, 2018|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US|issn=1097-1645}}</ref> claiming to have access to classified information involving the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] and its opponents in the [[United States]], and detailing a supposed secret counter-coup against the alleged "[[Deep state in the United States|deep state]]".

==Background==
{{See also|Pizzagate conspiracy theory|Murder of Seth Rich}}

The [[conspiracy theory]], mainly popularized by supporters of U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] under the names ''The Storm'' and ''The Great Awakening'', has been widely characterized as "baseless"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/roseanne-barr-terrible-tweets-racist-abc-stays-silent-0bfe7cdc7996/|title=ABC cancels Roseanne Barr’s show after she posts racist, conspiratorial tweets|last=Rupar|first=Aaron|date=May 29, 2018|work=ThinkProgress|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/jerome-corsi-man-who-shot-himself-outside-white-house-could-be-mk-ultra-test-subject/|title=Jerome Corsi: Man Who Shot Himself Outside White House Could Be ‘MK Ultra’ Test Subject|last=Holt|first=Jared|date=March 6, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and "unhinged".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2018/05/29/roseanne-ruined-roseanne/|title=Roseanne Ruined 'Roseanne'|last=Di Placido|first=Dani|date=May 29, 2018|work=Forbes|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en|issn=0015-6914}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thinkprogress.org/rosanne-barr-promotes-pro-trump-conspiracy-theory-d52a65887183/|title=Roseanne Barr promotes an unhinged pro-Trump conspiracy theory on Twitter|last=Culp-Ressler|first=Tara|date=March 31, 2018|work=ThinkProgress|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Prominent adherents to the conspiracy theory include [[Roseanne Barr]],<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> [[Curt Schilling]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/curt-schilling-backs-pro-trump-qanon-conspiracy-theory|title=Curt Schilling Backs Pro-Trump ‘QAnon’ Conspiracy Theory|last=Sommer|first=Will|date=June 26, 2018|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en}}</ref> [[Ben Garrison]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/a-new-wave-of-qanon-activists-emerge-from-the-cult-of-maga/|title=A New Wave Of ‘QAnon’ Activists Emerge From The Cult Of MAGA|last=Holt|first=Jared|date=July 9, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 13, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Laura Loomer]],<ref name=":4" /> [[Cheryl Sullenger]]<ref name=":2" /> and [[Lionel (radio personality)|Michael "Lionel" Lebron]].<ref>{{cite tweet|number=995277257466896385|user=LionelNation|title=I'm a Proud Dedicated #QAnon Believer|author=The Lionel Nation|author-link=Lionel (radio personality)|date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

==History==
===Origin===
A person identifying as "Q Clearance Patriot" first appeared on the [[/pol/]] board of [[4chan]] on October 28, 2017, posting messages in a thread entitled "Calm Before the Storm",<ref name="nymag">{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/12/qanon-4chan-the-storm-conspiracy-explained.html|title=The Storm Is the New Pizzagate — Only Worse|last=Martineau|first=Paris|date=December 19, 2017|work=New York Magazine|access-date=March 26, 2018|issn=0028-7369}}</ref> which was a reference to Trump's cryptic description of a gathering of military leaders as "the calm before the storm".<ref name="nymag" /><ref name="newsweek" /> The poster later moved to [[8chan]], citing alleged security concerns.<ref name=":5" />

The handle implied that the anonymous poster held [[Q clearance]],<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/theres-a-new-insane-conspiracy-theory-tearing-up-4chan-1821432397|title=There's a new, insane conspiracy theory tearing up 4chan|last=Colburn|first=Randall|date=December 19, 2017|work=AV Club}}</ref><ref name="ibt" /> a [[United States Department of Energy]] [[security clearance]] with access to classified information.

===False claims===
{{Expand section|date=July 2018}}
QAnon's posting campaign has a history of false, baseless and unsubstantiated claims. For example, QAnon has claimed on multiple occasions that [[North Korea|North Korean]] [[List of leaders of North Korea|Supreme Leader]] [[Kim Jong-un]] is a [[puppet ruler]] installed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ywex8v/what-is-qanon-conspiracy-theory|title=A Guide to QAnon, the New King of Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories|last=Caffier|first=Justin|date=June 12, 2018|work=Vice|access-date=July 15, 2018|language=en-us|issn=1077-6788}}</ref>

On February 16, 2018, QAnon falsely accused [[U.S. Representative]] and former [[Democratic National Committee]] chairwoman [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]] of hiring [[El Salvador]]ian gang [[MS-13]] to murder DNC staffer [[Seth Rich]].<ref name="newsweek" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/qanon-the-storm/|title=The QAnon Conspiracy Is the Oldest Scam Out There|last=Rothschild|first=Mike|date=March 19, 2018|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=July 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Identity==
There has been much speculation regarding the motive and the identity of the poster, with theories ranging from the poster being a military intelligence officer to the posting campaign being an [[alternate reality game]] by [[Cicada 3301]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/who-is-q-anon/|title=Who is Q Anon, the internet's most mysterious poster?|last=Rothschild|first=Mike|date=May 29, 2018|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reactions==
[[Fox News]] commentator [[Sean Hannity]] has tweeted about QAnon, and the Russian government-funded network [[RT News]] has discussed the topic.<ref name=ibt>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/what-storm-conspiracy-theory-that-mysterious-white-house-official-qanon-leaking-secrets-1655194|title=What is The Storm? Conspiracy theory that mysterious White House official leaks secrets|first=Kashmira|last=Gander|date=January 15, 2018|work=International Business Times}}</ref>

The conspiracy theory was initially promoted by [[Alex Jones]] and [[Jerome Corsi]],<ref name="newsweek">{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/how-storm-biggest-fake-news-story-796725|title=How 'the Storm' Became the Biggest Fake News Story of 2018|last=Hayden|first=Michael Edison|date=February 1, 2018|work=Newsweek|issn=0028-9604|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> but in May 2018 [[Right Wing Watch]] reported that Jones and Corsi had ceased to support QAnon, declaring the source to now be "completely compromised".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/stick-a-fork-in-qanon-alex-jones-and-jerome-corsi-claim-that-qanon-has-been-completely-compromised/|title=Stick A Fork In QAnon: Alex Jones And Jerome Corsi Claim That QAnon Has Been ‘Completely Compromised’|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=May 11, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2018, [[Reddit]] banned one of its communities discussing QAnon, /r/CBTS_Stream, for "encouraging or inciting violence and posting personal and confidential information". Following this, some followers moved to [[Discord (software)|Discord]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/15/17123964/reddit-discord-server-bans-cbts-uncensored-news|title=How closely do Discord and Reddit work together?|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=March 15, 2018|website=Polygon|access-date=April 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/reddit-bans-r-cbts_stream/|title=Reddit bans popular deep state conspiracy forum for 'inciting violence'|first=Andrew|last=Wyrich|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 13, 2018, [[Operation Rescue (Kansas)|Operation Rescue]] vice president and pro-life activist [[Cheryl Sullenger]] referred to QAnon as a "small group of insiders close to President Donald J. Trump" and called his internet postings the "highest level of intelligence to ever be dropped publicly in our known history".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/operation-rescue-hypes-qanon-blockbuster-intel-drop-about-planned-parenthood/|title=Operation Rescue Hypes QAnon ‘Blockbuster Intel Drop’ About Planned Parenthood|last=Blue|first=Miranda|date=March 15, 2018|work=Right Wing Watch|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.operationrescue.org/archives/blockbuster-intel-drop-reveals-trump-is-trying-to-end-planned-parenthood-twitter-attempts-censorship/|title=Blockbuster Intel Drop Reveals Trump is Trying to “End” Planned Parenthood – Twitter Attempts Censorship|date=March 13, 2018|first=Cheryl|last=Sullenger|author-link=Cheryl Sullenger|work=Operation Rescue|access-date=April 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 15, 2018, [[Kiev]]-based ''[[:uk:Рабочая газета|Rabochaya Gazeta]]'', the official newspaper of the [[Communist Party of Ukraine]], published an article calling QAnon a "military intelligence group".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://rg.kiev.ua/page5/article41143|title=Доживают ли Гавайи свои последние дни?|last=Gamma|first=Viktor|date=May 25, 2018|work=Rabochaya Gazeta|access-date=July 5, 2018|trans-title=Are we witnessing the final days of Hawaii?|lang=ru}}</ref>

On March 31, 2018, U.S. actress [[Roseanne Barr]] appeared to promote the conspiracy theory, which was subsequently covered by [[CNN]], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', and ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/31/politics/roseanne-barr-conspiracy-tweets/index.html|title=Roseanne tweets support of Trump conspiracy theory, confuses Twitter|last=Cole|first=Devan|work=CNN|access-date=April 1, 2018|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/31/the-conspiracy-theory-behind-a-curious-roseanne-barr-tweet-explained/|title=Analysis {{!}} The conspiracy theory behind a curious Roseanne Barr tweet, explained|last=Weigel|first=David|author-link=David Weigel|date=March 31, 2018|work=Washington Post|access-date=April 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/homenews/media/381123-roseanne-barr-faces-social-media-backlash-over-trump-conspiracy-theory-tweet |title= Roseanne Barr faces backlash over Trump conspiracy theory tweet |last=Bowden |first= Tohn |work= The Hill |access-date=March 31, 2018|date=March 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/opinion/qanon-trump-conspiracy-theory.html|title=Opinion {{!}} The Conspiracy Theory That Says Trump Is a Genius|date=April 6, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 6, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|first=Michelle|last=Goldberg|author-link=Michelle Goldberg}}</ref>

On June 26, 2018, [[WikiLeaks]] publicly accused QAnon of "leading anti-establishment Trump voters to embrace regime change and neo-conservatism".<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1011441579565953025|user=wikileaks|title=Why is "Qanon" leading anti-establishment Trump voters to embrace regime change and neo-conservatism?|author=WikiLeaks|author-link=WikiLeaks|date=June 26, 2016}}</ref> QAnon had previously pushed for regime change in Iran.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/pro-trump-conspiracy-monger-qanon-calls-for-regime-change-in-iran/244686/|title=Pro-Trump Conspiracy-Monger “QAnon” Calls for Regime Change in Iran|last=Webb|first=Whitney|date=June 25, 2018|work=MintPress News|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Two days later, the whistleblower organization shared an analysis by [[Internet Party (New Zealand)|Internet Party]] president Suzie Dawson, claiming that QAnon's posting campaign is an "intelligence agency-backed [[Psychological warfare|psyop]]" aiming to "round up people that are otherwise dangerous to the Deep State (because they are genuinely opposed to it) [and] usurp time & attention, & trick them into serving its aims".<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1000795757983780865|user=wikileaks|title=
This analysis, unfortunately, increasingly appears that it may be correct:|author=WikiLeaks|author-link=WikiLeaks|date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>

On June 28, 2018, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]'' listed the anonymous "Q" among the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018. Counting more than 130,000 related discussion videos on YouTube, ''Time'' cited the wide range of this conspiracy theory and its more prominent followers and spreading news coverage.<ref name="timemag">{{cite news |url=http://time.com/5324130/most-influential-internet/ |title=25 Most Influential People on the Internet|issn=0040-781X |last=Chan |first=Melissa |date=June 28, 2018 |work=Time |access-date=June 28, 2018}}</ref>

On July 4, 2018, the [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] shared "a popular YouTube guide to QAnon" on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, and called QAnon a "mysterious anonymous inside leaker of deep state activities and counter activities by President Trump".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/16/conspiracy-theorist-qanon-promoted-then-deleted-by-hillsborough-county-gop/|title=Conspiracy theorist QAnon promoted, then deleted, by Hillsborough County GOP|last=March|first=William|date=July 16, 2018|work=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=July 16, 2018|issn=2327-9052}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2018/07/15/gop-twitter-account-helping-spread-baseless-internet-conspiracy-theory-qanon/220677|title=A GOP Twitter account is helping spread the baseless internet conspiracy theory QAnon|last=López G.|first=Cristina|date=July 15, 2018|work=Media Matters for America|access-date=July 15, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

On July 16, 2018, [[NBC News]] reported that an app promoting the conspiracy theory was the {{Ordinal|10}} most popular paid app on the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]], noting it ranked first in the "entertainment" section. The app was pulled from the online store after an inquiry from NBC News.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/exclusive-apple-google-cashed-pizzagate-offshoot-conspiracy-app-n891726|title=Exclusive: Apple, Google cashed in on Pizzagate-offshoot conspiracy app|last=Collins|first=Ben|date=July 16, 2018|work=NBC News|access-date=July 16, 2018|last2=Zadrozny|first2=Brandy|language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons}}
* [[Pizzagate conspiracy theory]]
* [[Murder of Seth Rich]]
* [[Operation Mockingbird]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Conspiracy theories}}

[[Category:Unidentified people]]
[[Category:Anonymous bloggers]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States]]
[[Category:2017 controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:Fringe theories]]
[[Category:4chan phenomena]]
[[Category:Classified information in the United States]]
[[Category:Internet manipulation and propaganda]]
[[Category:Psychological warfare]]
[[Category:Propaganda in the United States]]
[[Category:Satanic ritual abuse hysteria in the United States]]