AP Photo/John Minchillo
- DHS is monitoring online disinformation spread through social media and other platforms that may incite violence.
- The department said it does not monitor individual posts or engagements.
- A top DHS official told Congress in June that the spread of conspiracy theories could result in violence.
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In a bulletin released Friday by its Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it has observed "an increasing but modest level of activity online" by individuals calling for violence in response to unsubstantiated claims of election fraud and the alleged "reinstatement" of former President Donald Trump.
"We are currently in a heightened terrorism-related threat environment, and DHS is aware of previous instances of violence associated with the dissemination of disinformation, false narratives, and conspiracy theories about the 2020 election," according to the bulletin provided to Insider, which was also shared with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials.
While the department does not currently have evidence that specific events are being targeted, it said in the bulletin that it remains focused on the nexus between violence and extremist ideologies.
DHS is currently working on identifying and evaluating narratives and disinformation spread through social media and other online platforms that may incite violence.
In late June, John Cohen, head of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis and a top counterterrorism official, told Congress that he was worried the heightened claims of election rigging and beliefs Trump will be back in the White House could potentially lead to violence.
Both conspiracies have no basis in fact: The 2020 election was not rigged and Trump cannot be reinstated as president in August.