US Legal Action Taken Against Two Men in Online Messaging Scandal

US authorities have charged two men for using the social media platform Telegram to incite racist attacks, highlighting the concerning role of encrypted messaging in promoting extremist violence.

At a Glance

Two individuals, Dallas Erin Humber and Matthew Robert Allison, were arrested for promoting violence motivated by white supremacist ideology.
They utilized Telegram to encourage attacks targeting minorities, officials, and critical infrastructure.
The suspects face 15 federal counts in California, including soliciting hate crimes and conspiring to support terrorism.
The defendants led a group called Terrorgram Collective, promoting extremist white supremacist ideology.
The indictment claims they distributed bomb-making instructions and a hit list of high-value targets.

Charges Filed Against Two Men for Using Telegram

On September 9, 2024, US authorities charged Dallas Erin Humber, 34, and Matthew Robert Allison, 37, for exploiting the social media app Telegram to incite racist and violent attacks. Humber is from Elk Grove, California, while Allison hails from Boise, Idaho. Both men are accused of leading a group called Terrorgram Collective that operates on Telegram. The group is known for advocating white supremacist ideologies and promoting violence.

The suspects face 15 federal counts in California, including soliciting hate crimes, conspiring to support terrorists, distributing bomb-making instructions, and plotting the murder of federal officials.

The charges stem from significant evidence revealing their usage of Telegram to encourage various forms of extremist violence. This includes attacks on minorities, government officials, and US critical infrastructure. Reports show they celebrated acts of violence such as a stabbing incident outside a mosque in Turkey and shared a list of targets for assassination, including a senator, a federal judge, and a former US attorney.

US authorities charge two men for encouraging racist attacks on Telegram https://t.co/FJAVb7LLq9

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 10, 2024

Terrorgram Collective’s Extremism

The Terrorgram Collective, according to authorities, is a transnational terrorist group dedicated to promoting violent white supremacist ideology. The group’s activities included propagating hate crimes, providing bomb-making instructions, and planning attacks on critical infrastructure and public officials. They are also reported to have celebrated violent events like the 2019 Christchurch massacre and produced the documentary “White Terror,” which praised 105 acts of white supremacist violence from 1968 to 2021.

“Using the Telegram platform, they advanced their heinous white supremacist ideology, solicited hate crimes, and provided guidance and instructions for terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure and assassinations of government officials,” said Lisa Monaco, deputy attorney general.

The indictment accuses Humber and Allison of compiling a “high-value” target list for assassination that included federal personnel. Their communication included urging followers to “Take Action Now” and promising recognition as “Saints” for those who committed acts of violence. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the department’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable, even those hiding behind computer screens.

Two people who prosecutors say were motivated by white supremacist ideology have been arrested on charges that they used Telegram to encourage acts of violence against minorities, government officials and critical infrastructure in the United States. https://t.co/pmfFEOKKvd

— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) September 10, 2024

Response to Telegram’s Involvement

Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, has faced scrutiny for its use by extremists and criminals. The platform’s founder, Pavel Durov, was detained by French authorities on charges related to criminal activity on the app, which he denies. Telegram’s spokesperson, Remi Vaughn, stated, “Calls to violence have no place on Telegram’s platform. Moderators removed several channels that used variations of the ‘Terrorgram’ name when they were discovered years ago. Similar content is banned whenever it appears.”

The charges emphasized the growing challenge to law enforcement in monitoring and mitigating hate speech and radicalization through digital platforms, particularly those with encrypted communications. Federal agents also foiled a plot by an 18-year-old to attack an energy facility in New Jersey in July, further highlighting the threats posed by such extremists.

“Today’s indictment charges the defendants with leading a transnational terrorist group dedicated to attacking America’s critical infrastructure, targeting a hit list of our country’s public officials, and carrying out deadly hate crimes—all in the name of violent white supremacist ideology,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.

As the US heads into its presidential election in November, heightened fears of political violence persist. Law enforcement authorities stress the importance of vigilance and robust monitoring to prevent similar plots and ensure public safety.