PNP urges 8chan owner to surface
The Philippine National Police (PNP) urged the owner of 8chan, an online messaging board allegedly used by extremists spewing hate on the web, to surface and cooperate in an ongoing police investigation.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said 8chan owner Jim Watkins should come out in the open after Fredrick Brennan, the creator of the imageboard, presented himself to the police AntiCybercrime Group (ACG).
“The PNP encourages 8chan owner Jim Watkins to come out also and cooperate with the probe of the ACG,” Banac said yesterday in a text message.
Brennan, now a resident of the Philippines, has met with police investigators to help in the probe. He created the website in 2013 but sold it to Watkins the following year.
In a television interview aired over ABS-CBN, Brennan said he created the website in 2013 but sold it to Watkins the following year.
The imageboard was used by the gunman in the recent mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde has ordered an investigation after authorities found out that Brennan and Watkins have been residing in the country.
According to Brennan, Watkins should have restricted the users to prevent the website from being used by extremists to promote violence.
“Jim Watkins was the one uploading the manifestos. It’s not him directly but it’s like he is not doing anything to tell the users I don’t like this,” he said.
Brennan said Watkins should have simply taken down the offensive materials posted on the website instead of doing nothing.
While they have yet to pinpoint Watkins’ location, ACG director Brig. Gen. Dennis Agustin believes he has not left the country.
“Jim Watkins is probably still in the Philippines but has since moved out from his leased apartment,” Agustin said.
The ACG has intensified its cyber-patrolling in response to the rampant illegal and terrorism-related activities in online platforms.
“We are now looking into some online sites that may serve as a platform to promote and provide open grounds to plot and exhibit violence and terrorism,” Agustin said.