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Fact check: Social media users misinterpret DHS terrorism bulletin

Ella Lee   | Paste BN
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The claim: The White House and Department of Homeland Security deemed four behaviors acts of terrorism

A new Department of Homeland Security terrorism advisory includes COVID-19 and election misinformation on a list of issues that could inspire future violence. On social media, some took that to mean the agency was calling them terrorists.

“Behavior the White House and DHS deemed as terrorism today! Resisting Covid regulations, opposing government, spreading ‘misinformation,’ thinking the election was rigged,” reads text in an Aug. 14 Instagram post by the conservative social media agency Voiceban. "I think this makes us all terrorists?"

The post accumulated more than 5,000 likes within three days. Posts raising similar concerns, shared alongside a screengrab of an NBC Nightly News broadcast, have also gone viral online. 

In an emailed statement defending the post, the Instagram user reiterated the claim that DHS is "suggesting that anyone that anyone (sic) that has an opinion that doesnt meet their narrative is a domestic terrorist." They added, "The government and all branches working for the government is out to destroy Republicans."

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But this line of thinking misinterprets the advisory. The DHS included issues like COVID-19 and election misinformation as points of tension that could escalate to violence. Neither the agency nor the White House deemed any groups or individuals as terrorists. 

Advisory flags 9/11 anniversary, extremist narratives as possible threats

The DHS released its terrorism advisory Aug. 13. The document warns of a "heightened threat environment across the United States."

The agency points to the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, tension due to COVID-19 and political conspiracy theories as potential triggers for violence. 

“These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences," the bulletin reads.

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The advisory says bad actors are using online forums to spread “violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.” The threats are exacerbated by the pandemic and “perceived government restrictions,” according to the DHS.

“Pandemic-related stressors have contributed to increased societal strains and tensions, driving several plots by domestic violent extremists, and they may contribute to more violence this year,” the advisory reads. 

The DHS notes that foreign and domestic actors have called for violence against groups like elected officials, law enforcement, religious communities and “perceived ideologically-opposed individuals.” Other non-specific calls for violence continue to percolate on platforms that harbor conspiracy theories about election fraud, the reinstatement of former President Donald Trump and anticipated COVID-19 restrictions. 

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The advisory does not add any groups or individuals to the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations. And national security experts interviewed by PolitiFact said there is no legal process for designating domestic actors as terrorists.

This isn't the first time the DHS has released a terrorism advisory that flags specific topics of concern.

In both January and May, the agency published advisories highlighting extremist narratives and misinformation related to COVID-19 and the 2020 election. The May advisory expired Aug. 13, when the new advisory was released. The Aug. 13 advisory expires Nov. 11.

Our rating: False 

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that the White House and Department of Homeland Security deemed four behaviors as acts of terrorism. A terrorism advisory warns of a "heightened threat environment" due to the upcoming 9/11 anniversary, as well as tension caused by COVID-19 and political conspiracy theories. The bulletin does not deem any groups or individuals to be terrorists. 

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