In the wake of the recent presidential election, several federal and state agencies, including the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), are investigating a disturbing wave of racist text messages targeting Black individuals across the United States. Reports have emerged from multiple states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee, where anonymous messages invoking slavery were sent to Black men, women, and children.
The texts, which instructed recipients to 'board a bus' to a 'plantation' for forced labor, have caused significant distress, particularly among school-aged children and college students. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel condemned the messages, stating they are 'unacceptable' and that the agency is taking this targeting very seriously.
Authorities have noted that the sender utilized a VPN to obscure their identity. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill highlighted the need for accountability, emphasizing that the use of technology for intimidation likely violates multiple laws. Maryland's Attorney General Anthony Brown echoed these sentiments, stating the targeting of children in these messages is particularly troubling.
Phone service provider TextNow confirmed that some of its accounts were used to send the messages and has since disabled them for violating its terms of service. Major telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon have acknowledged the issue as an industry-wide problem.
The U.S. wireless industry has blocked thousands of texts related to this incident as part of the CTIA's Secure Messaging Initiative, which collaborates with law enforcement to identify platforms used by bad actors. Experts in digital security warn that the messages likely stem from the exploitation of personal data, which can be purchased online, allowing for targeted harassment based on demographic information.
As investigations continue, the incidents have raised alarm within affected communities, prompting parents and civil rights leaders to call for increased vigilance and protective measures against such acts of hate, which are seen as a resurgence of racial intimidation in American society.