![]() ![]() YouTube told VICE News that its Trust and Safety team is aware of the QAnon-linked code words but said these weren’t the only factor it uses when determining if a video should be taken down. ![]() Constitution that QAnon followers use to identify themselves. Also among the phrases on the list is “we the people,” a reference to the U.S. Phrases include “great awakening” and “child sex trafficking.” The list also included “white hats” a reference to the people working in secret with Trump to unmasks the “cabal” of pedophiles. While the vast majority of the channels have hundreds or thousands of views on their videos, the Pendulum analysis identified 47 channels that have over 1 million views of videos with QAnon phrases in their descriptions, a significant signal that the video itself will contain even more QAnon conspiracies.Ī number of channels on the list have been removed, but the vast majority remain active. So instead, they have spread the conspiracy theories that are core to QAnon, including the claim that Democrats are running an underground sex-trafficking ring and that Trump is working to unmask them, a moment QAnon faithful call “the great awakening” that will see people like Hillary Clinton executed. Together, they’ve garnered over 208 million views.Įvangelical pastors for the most part have been careful to avoid openly endorsing QAnon, knowing it would draw attention and criticism on them and their church, as well as a possible ban from YouTube. In total, the data shows that in the space of three years, those channels have posted a combined 20,000 videos mentioning one of a list of common QAnon phrases. The researchers found at least 1,800 Christian evangelical channels that have posted at least one video with a signature QAnon phrase. The investigation was conducted in collaboration with data analysts at Pendulum, a data science company that uses machine-learning technology to track misinformation on YouTube. Mentioning it would mean banishment from the platform that has given his church its lifeblood for the last 18 months: YouTube. “I'm a truth seeker and a truth teller.”īut Locke, like many other evangelical leaders spreading these conspiracy theories to their congregations, has a huge reason to avoid any mention of QAnon. ![]() I'm not in all that nonsense,” Locke told VICE News at his church last month. Locke’s conspiracy theories match perfectly with those spread by the QAnon movement in recent years, but the pastor is careful to never mention QAnon, and when asked about it, claims he’s opposed to the movement. “I guess they don’t want to seem crazy,” he said, before shouting, “Well, I’m already crazy.” Locke didn’t leave his audience wondering for too long. Then he turned to the audience, assembled in a tent set up to accommodate his fast-growing congregation, and wondered aloud “why more pastors don’t talk about this stuff?” He also repeatedly said former President Donald Trump was the legitimate president and “you gotta smoke a lot of dope in your momma’s basement not to believe that fact.” ![]()
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