Facebook turns up the heat on QAnon

OAKLAND, Calif. —Facebook is tightening its policy against QAnon, the baseless conspiracy theory that paints President Donald Trump as a secret warrior against a supposed childtrafficking ring run by celebrities and “deep state” government officials.

The company said Tuesday that itwill remove Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts for “representing QAnon” — even if they don’t promote violence.

Facebook didn’t immediately explain what it means for Facebook groups to “represent” QAnon.

Less than two months ago, Facebook said itwould stop promoting the group and its adherents, although it faltered with spotty enforcement. It said it only would remove QAnon groups if they promote violence. That’s no longer the case.

The company said it was starting to enforce the policy as of Tuesday but cautioned it “will take time and will continue in the coming days and weeks.”

The QAnon phenomenon has sprawled across a patchwork of secret Facebook groups, Twitter accounts and YouTube videos in recent years. QAnon has been linked to real-world violence such as criminal reports of kidnapping and dangerous claims that the coronavirus is a hoax.

But the conspiracy theory also has seeped into mainstream politics. Several Republican running for Congress this year are QAnon-friendly.

By the time Facebook and other social media companies began enforcing — however limited — policies against QAnon, critics said it largelywas too late.