attacking the anzacs on facebook
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Attacking the ANZACs on Facebook
306 Hawthorn Road,
Caulfield S. Vic. 3162
T (61-3) 9272 5594
W: www.ohpi.org.au
Report: IR13-05
Dr Andre Oboler
Copyright 2013 Online Hate Prevention Institute
This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
mailto:[email protected]://www.ohpi.org.au/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://www.ohpi.org.au/mailto:[email protected] -
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Attacking the ANZACs on Facebook
By Andre Oboler
Published in Melbourne by:
Online Hate Prevention Institute
306 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield South, Vic, 3162
Ph: (03) 9272 5594
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ohpi.org.au
ISBN: 9780987429438
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available from the National Library of Australia:
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/
Copyright 2013 Online Hate Prevention Institute
This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/ -
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About the Online Hate Prevention Institute
The Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) is an Australian Charity on the Register of Harm
Prevention Charities maintain by the Australian Government. We aim to be a world leader incombating online hate and a critical partner who works with key stakeholders to improve the
prevention, mitigation and responses to online hate. Ultimately, OHPI seeks to facilitate a change in
online culture so that hate in all its forms becomes as socially unacceptable online as it is in real
life. OHPI is supported by public donations to the Online Hate Prevention Fund. Within Australia
donations over two dollars are tax deductible (see below).
More information can be found on our website:www.ohpi.org.au
About the Reports Author, Dr Andre Oboler
Dr Oboler is CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute. Dr Oboler holds an Honours Degree in
Computer Science from Monash University (Australia), a PhD in Computer Science from Lancaster
University (UK) and completed a Post Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Political Science at
Bar-Ilan University (Israel). He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and a member of the IEEE Computer
Society and the IEEE Society for the Social Implications of Technology.
How you can help us
As a first step in supporting our work, if you use Facebook please like our Facebook page at
www.ohpi.org.au/onlinehate, and if you have Twitter, please follow us at@onlinehate. You can also
assist us by sharing our work with others.
OHPIs work is made possible through public donations. In Australia we are a Registered Harm
Prevention Charity and all donations over $2 to the Online Hate Prevention Fund are tax deductible.
We also accept donations from outside Australia.
Donations can be made through our website:http://ohpi.org.au/donate/ Cheques payable to the Online Hate Prevention Fund can be mailed to: OHPI, 306
Hawthorn Road, Caulfield South, Vic 3126, Australia.
http://www.ohpi.org.au/http://www.ohpi.org.au/http://www.ohpi.org.au/http://www.ohpi.org.au/onlinehatehttp://www.ohpi.org.au/onlinehatehttp://www.twitter.com/onlinehatehttp://www.twitter.com/onlinehatehttp://www.twitter.com/onlinehatehttp://ohpi.org.au/donate/http://ohpi.org.au/donate/http://ohpi.org.au/donate/http://ohpi.org.au/donate/http://www.twitter.com/onlinehatehttp://www.ohpi.org.au/onlinehatehttp://www.ohpi.org.au/ -
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ContentsIntroduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2
List of Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 3
Remove Anzac Day As a Public Holiday (ID: 159620354199211) ........................................................... 4
Attacking the ANZACs ......................................................................................................................... 4
Impersonation and incitement ........................................................................................................... 8
Anzac day is a joke (ID: 642183265797348) ......................................................................................... 12
Attacking the ANZACs ....................................................................................................................... 13
Impersonation and incitement ......................................................................................................... 17
Anzac day is a joke (ID: 476914582364450) ......................................................................................... 18
Attacking the ANZACs and mocking victims of the Boston Marathon attack................................... 19
Impersonation with Joseph ........................................................................................................... 20
Anzac day is a joke (ID: 623017154379082) ......................................................................................... 24
Attacking the ANZACs ....................................................................................................................... 25
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Introduction
In the lead-up to ANZAC day 2013 an internettrollbegan creating a series of pages mocking ANZAC
veterans. The pages were designed to cause public outrage in both Australia and New Zealand.
The pages had few fans, and most of the fans they had on inspection appeared to be recently
created fake accounts. Most, if not all, of the fake accounts appear to belong to the page creator.
While our veterans can take comfort in the fact that those who would support such attacks are few
and far between, the outrage felt by the community was significant.
The person responsible for these pages is known to OHPI in relation to a number of past incidents,
including pages attacking Indigenous Australians and the Jewish Community, and pages mocking the
death of various children who have died in Australia in tragic circumstances. This page creator is a
particular kind oftrollknown as a griefer, that is, someone who uses fake accounts in order to
destroy other peoples experience of social media. Their aim is to cause distress, and if possible, get
media attention.
This report documents the first four pages created in this latest run of incidents. A fifth page, of a
slightly different nature, was also briefly online and will be discussed in OHPIs next report. In this
report, each Facebook page is addressed in two parts, the first examines the content attacking
ANZAC veterans, and the second considers the secondary attack that occurs when the griefer
subsequently discloses their identity. The identity information they provide whether it is a name,
a Facebook profile link, or a phone number typically points to a real person who has been selected
by the griefer as a target. The page is designed to generate anger and a desire for steps to be taken
against the person behind the page, and the provision of identity information then discloses a clear
and immediate target.
The behaviour documented in this report demonstrates an escalation by this particular griefer over
the last few days which has thankfully been matched by an increasingly fast responses from
Facebook in response to OHPI reports. Facebook has been shutting down not only the hate pages,
but also the fake accounts associated with them.
This person has been active for six months, as documented both in OHPIs public reports, such as our
report into Aboriginal Memes and Online Hate,1 and in confidential reports that have been shared
with relevant government departments and officials. OHPI believes the nature of this persons
activities is such that it creates a genuine risk of emotional or physical harm to members of targeted
communities as well as to targeted victims of their secondary attacks.
Online action is clearly insufficient to bring an end to these attacks on ANZAC veterans and other
segments of the community. OHPI believe offences have been committed both under the
Queensland Criminal Code and the Commonwealths Criminal Code Act 1995. Only a successful
prosecution will put an end to this persons reign of hate.
1See:http://ohpi.org.au/aboriginal-memes-and-online-hate/
http://ohpi.org.au/aboriginal-memes-and-online-hate/http://ohpi.org.au/aboriginal-memes-and-online-hate/http://ohpi.org.au/aboriginal-memes-and-online-hate/http://ohpi.org.au/aboriginal-memes-and-online-hate/ -
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List of Recommendations
# Recommendation Page
1 Where fake accounts are used to create dedicated hate pages, all related fake
accounts and related pages administered by the same accounts should be foundand closed.
4
2 Where a hate page is created and the anonymous page owner then impersonates
another person, this should be classes as a potential immediate threat of physical
harm and deal with as a matter of priority.
8
3 Even where content is repeatedly recreated, its removal is still an effective
response. It also sends a normative message to the effect that this content
crosses a line.
12
4 Facebook users should be wary of any page that posts a link to a Facebook profile
or external website, or which posts personal information, and which claims this
information belong to the page owner. Following a recommendation from OHPI,
Facebook made it possible for page owners to visibly link their Facebook accountto their page. If this has not been done, any claim of ownership to a page must
be treated as suspicious.
18
5 Organisations, companies and brands with a Facebook page should receive a
notification when someone wishes to list themselves as employed by that entity.
Until a page administrator accepts the person, they should not be visibly
associated with the entitys page. To prevent abuse, administrators should be
able to turn off notifications for approval.
21
6 Where someone is the victim of repeated attacks, in a short time period,
involving the recreation of hate pages Facebook has already removed, an
additional reporting option should become available to allow new incidents to be
easily linked to the previous incident. This would speed up the review process atFacebooks end, and allow these ongoing attacks to be given priority and the
response from Facebook to be more easily escalated.
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Remove Anzac Day As a Public Holiday (ID: 159620354199211)
Figure 1: The page Remove Anzac Day As a Public Holiday (ID: 159620354199211)
This page was created on the 8th of April and, along with a related page and a number of fake user
accounts, which OHPI brought to Facebooks attention, was closed by Facebook on the 12th of April.
The step of removing the infrastructure was a significant measure. Despite a new page Anzac day is
a joke (ID 642183265797348) later being created, the removal of the infrastructure significantly
decreased the capacity of those behind the page and forced them to begin again from scratch. OHPIthanks Facebook for their response to this page which was both efficient and thorough.
Recommendation 1: Where fake accounts are used to create dedicated hate pages, all related fake
accounts and related pages administered by the same accounts should be found and closed.
Attacking the ANZACs
Figure 2 The video game
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Figure 3 Best we forget
Figure 4 A hero he's not
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Figure 5 ANZACs = Murderers
Figure 6 Get Well Soon Crew Laughs at your Dead
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Figure 7 Once a murderer always a murderer
Figure 8 Wheres Wally, POW edition
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Figure 9 Australian soldiers are weak and slow
Figure 10 ANZACs should make amends for death, destruction and misery
Figure 11 Remove ANZAC Day out of respect for German victims
Impersonation and incitement
The page also involved an impersonation of OHPIs CEO, Dr Andre Oboler. This was done to stir up
anger at the page creator and then direct this anger at the chosen target, Dr Oboler. The comments
are a clear case of incitement. There was also a second target, the owner of the phone numberattributed to Dr Oboler. The incitement led to threats of violence on Facebook, and most likely by
phone as well.
Recommendation 2: Where a hate page is created and the anonymous page owner then
impersonates another person, this should be classes as a potential immediate threat of physical
harm and deal with as a matter of priority.
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Figure 12 Impersonation
Figure 13 Impersonation and direct incitement
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Figure 14 Impersonation and a phone number (not mine)
Figure 15 expression of violence in response to incitement
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Figure 16 Expression of violence in response to incitements
Figure 17 Expression of violence in response to incitement
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Anzac day is a joke (ID: 642183265797348)
Figure 18: The page "Anzac day is a joke" (ID: 642183265797348)
The page Anzac day is a joke (ID: 642183265797348) was created on Saturday the 13th following
the removal of the Remove Anzac Day As a Public Holiday (ID: 159620354199211) page. It was
closed on Tuesday the 16th.
The closure of supporting infrastructure related to the Remove Anzac Day As a Public Holiday (ID:
159620354199211) page set the creators of the new page back significantly. They created new fakeaccounts with the same profile pictures and names as those in the previous accounts Facebook had
closed, but doing so cost them time and effort. Given the nature of social media, each time a page
or account is closed, the creator must also begin building their social network and page supporter
base from the beginning.
Recommendation 3: Even where content is repeatedly recreated, its removal is still an effective
response. It also sends a normative message to the effect that this content crosses a line.
The number of supporters of the hate page may reduce:
1) As a result of a realization that things have gone too far2) Out of a well placed concern that their activities are now in the spotlight of those able to
take action against them (be it Facebook or law enforcement), and in the case of Facebook,
that they may be putting their other accounts and pages at risk if they continue
3) As a response to the higher level of effort required to keep re-liking new version of the page,re-friending replacement fake accounts, and reposting content that is repeatedly removed
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Attacking the ANZACs
Figure 19 Laughing at the death of the ANZACs
Figure 20 ANACs dying like slaughtered pigs
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Figure 21 Repost of the Best We Forget image from the previous page
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Figure 22 Mocking the desecration of a memorial
Figure 23 Attempt to cause outrage through frained ignorance (1)
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Figure 24 Reposting of the A hero he's not image
Figure 25 Attempt to cause outrage through frained ignorance (2)
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Impersonation and incitement
This page also involved impersonation and incitement.
Figure 26 Impersonation of Andre Oboler
Figure 27 Giving out a phone number (probably belonging to a victim)
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Anzac day is a joke (ID: 476914582364450)
The third page, also entitled Anzac day is a joke but now with the unique page ID number
476914582364450, was created on Tuesday April 16th at around 4pm, and was closed by 11pm,
within an hour of OHPI notifying Facebook. The pages cover photograph this time featured a
military funeral with three targets drawn over the soldiers and the text pop pop pop. The creator
dropped their faked political motive of opposing war, and now focused purely on causing offencewithout any attempt at justification.
In this instance, the page creator invested a great deal of effort in their impersonation, and some
members of the public fell for their libellous claim that OHPI and its CEO, Dr Andre Oboler, were
somehow involved in this new hate page. Previous impersonation efforts had been rapidly dismissed
by Facebook users as soon as they began doing their own research. This time, however, some users
fell for the impersonation and began posting OHPIs contact details and office address to Facebook
while others called for physical attacks against the page creator. Facebooks rapid response was a
result of this escalating level of threat.
The new page also included content mocking the bomb attack on the Boston marathon.
Recommendation 4: Facebook users should be wary of any page that posts a link to a Facebook
profile or external website, or which posts personal information, and which claims this information
belong to the page owner. Following a recommendation from OHPI, Facebook made it possible for
page owners to visibly link their Facebook account to their page. If this has not been done, any claim
of ownership to a page must be treated as suspicious.
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Attacking the ANZACs and mocking victims of the Boston Marathon attack
Figure 28 The cover image of a funeral precession being targeted
Figure 29 Defamation of the ANZACs and attempt to cause outrage through frained ignorance
Figure 30 Mocking the victims of the Boston Marathon attack
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Figure 31 Anne Frank and the ANZACs another attempt to cause outrage through frained ignorance
Impersonation with Joseph
This time the impersonation involved the creation of a new fictional character, Joseph Oboler. This
involved the creation of a fake account and then the use of that account to post on the anti-veteran
hate page.
Figure 32 "Joseph Oboler" appears
Look at the profile itself shows that the workplace has been sent to OHPI, a number of posts are
made to highlight the supposed Jewish identity of the poster, and reference is made to OHPIs CEO
Dr Andre Oboler, who has been edited into a photograph with Joseph.
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Figure 33 The fake accounts workplace has been set to OHPI
Recommendation 5: Organisations, companies and brands with a Facebook page should receive a
notification when someone wishes to list themselves as employed by that entity. Until a page
administrator accepts the person, they should not be visibly associated with the entitys page. To
prevent abuse, administrators should be able to turn off notifications for approval.
Recommendation 6: Where someone is the victim of repeated attacks, in a short time period,
involving the recreation of hate pages Facebook has already removed, an additional reporting option
should become available to allow new incidents to be easily linked to the previous incident. This
would speed up the review process at Facebooks end, and allow these ongoing attacks to be given
priority and the response from Facebook to be more easily escalated.
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Figure 34 Edited photograph of "Joseph" and Andre (these events have been back dated to before the profiles creation
date)
The photograph used for Joseph Obolers profile picture is actually that of Mr Pascal Canfin,
Frances Deputy Minister of Development. The picture appears to have been lifted and cropped from
the French Foreign Ministry website.
2
The use of this more elaborate profile cause people to be more accepting of the authenticity of the
profile, this created both anti-Jewish responses and efforts to expose OHPIs address in order to
make it a target.
2http://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-
developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-du
http://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-duhttp://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-duhttp://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-duhttp://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-duhttp://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-duhttp://arabe.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/politique-etrangere-de-la-france/aide-au-developpement-et/assises-du-developpement-et-de-la/actualites-21795/article/cloture-des-assises-du -
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Figure 35 Users respond - Use of Joseph incites antisemitism, impact of frained ignorance
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Figure 36 Targeting OHPI
Anzac day is a joke (ID: 623017154379082)
The 4th page attacking ANZAC veterans, the third by the name ANZAC day is a joke (ID:
623017154379082), was created around 11:30pm on April 16th
. OHPI notified Facebook when we
became aware of the page and it was removed within 24 hours of its creation.
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Attacking the ANZACs
Figure 37 Attempt to cause outrage through frained ignorance
Figure 38 Defaming the ANZAC veterans
Figure 39 Call to ban ANZAC Day
Figure 40 Mobile phone number