False Flag Conspiracies Gain Traction on Reddit After U.S. Antisemitic Attacks

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In the wake of two recent violent antisemitic incidents in the United States, online discussions have seen a surge in conspiracy theories—most notably the term “false flag.”

In the wake of two recent violent antisemitic incidents in the United States, online discussions have seen a surge in conspiracy theories—most notably the term “false flag.” This term was among the most commonly mentioned phrases on Reddit threads discussing both attacks, according to a report from the ADL Center for Technology and Society (CTS).

The first incident took place on May 21, 2025, when two Israeli Embassy employees were killed during a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Just weeks later, on June 1, a firebomb attack occurred at another Jewish gathering in Boulder, Colorado. Sadly, one of the victims, 82-year-old Karen Diamond, passed away due to her injuries on June 30.

Among Reddit users, the term “false flag” ranked second in discussions related to the Boulder bombing and fifth in the conversations around the D.C. shooting. This trend raises concerns as it reflects a widespread belief that these attacks were orchestrated to manipulate public opinion or serve a hidden agenda. Such narratives are often fueled by antisemitic tropes that attempt to deflect blame and obscure the true nature of hate-based violence.

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What Does “False Flag” Really Mean?
Historically, the term “false flag” refers to deceptive military tactics, where a country carries out an attack under the guise of another to justify retaliation or war. In modern conspiracy theory culture, however, the term has been repurposed to suggest that violent incidents, especially mass shootings or terrorist attacks, are secretly planned by governments or covert organizations.

In these Reddit discussions, conspiracy theorists suggest that the Boulder and D.C. incidents were not carried out by white supremacists or lone extremists, but rather staged by Israel or Jewish organizations for political gain. These claims not only minimize the trauma of real victims but also fuel a broader cycle of antisemitism and misinformation online.

Reddit’s hate policy has been updated to directly address these trends. It now explicitly prohibits denial or minimization of hate-based violence. Yet, Reddit’s decentralized moderation system—where much of the rule enforcement is left to volunteer moderators—makes consistent enforcement challenging.

Reddit’s Influence on Broader Media and AI
Reddit plays a unique role in shaping online discourse, including the training of large language models (LLMs) used in AI systems. When false flag theories and antisemitic narratives go unchallenged, they can influence the datasets AI models are trained on, which may affect their responses in the future.

As the lines between online forums and real-world consequences blur, Reddit's impact continues to grow. Users, moderators, and platform admins share the responsibility of ensuring the spread of harmful content is curbed.

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