Digital Downfall: Technology, Cyberattacks and the End of the American Republic by Taylor Hugh

Author:Taylor, Hugh [Taylor, Hugh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Intrados Publishing
Published: 2020-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

The Rise of the Digital Party

The changes visited on the US by digital technology and social media have led to the rise of a new political party. It appears to comprise elements of the old Republican Party, but the “Digital Party,” as it might be thought of, is something different. It’s composed of people who distrust information sources outside of their immediate social groupings, online news sites deemed trustworthy by elite right wing media figures and direct communications they receive from Donald Trump, the leader of the Digital Party.

The Digital Party frightens traditional Republicans, but they are loath to cross this group. In fact, it even appears to be dangerous to criticize the leader of the Digital Party. Critics of Trump routinely receive death threats from Trump supporters. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Christina Blasey Ford, who accused Trump court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault and “never Trumper” Republican Rick Wilson have all been threatened with death for speaking out against Trump. 229 The death threats are digitally-derived and often include “doxxing,” or hacking that publicizes the target’s home address, phone number, names of family members and so forth—the better to threaten harm.

Threatening death is an increasingly normalized aspect of American politics. On January 20, 2020, when thousands of heavily armed gun rights protesters descended on Richmond, Virginia, Del. Lee Carter, a state representative who sponsored a gun regulation bill went into hiding, fearing for his safety after receiving death threats. 230 Carter had previously been criticized by gun rights groups on social media, many of whom distorted his proposed gun regulations in online forums. An anti-gun group The Coalition to End Gun Violence decided not to appear, its members having been threatened with violence if they showed up. 231 The rally featured armed protests by Internet-formed groups that are actively advocating for civil unrest, 232 referring to it as a “Boogaloo,” which is right-wing slang for war against the government. 233

Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer was similarly threatened with death by (Internet-driven) protestors for enforcing a COVID-19 lockdown. 234 She was singled out for death because she defied President Trump’s demand that she reopen the state. He had taken to Twitter, encouraging people to “Liberate Michigan” in 2020.

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