Security News > 2020 > October > The Now-Defunct Firms Behind 8chan, QAnon

Some of the world's largest Internet firms have taken steps to crack down on disinformation spread by QAnon conspiracy theorists and the hate-filled anonymous message board 8chan.

According to a California-based security researcher, those seeking to de-platform these communities may have overlooked a simple legal solution to that end: Both the Nevada-based web hosting company owned by 8chan's current figurehead and the California firm that provides its sole connection to the Internet are defunct businesses in the eyes of their respective state regulators.

On Sunday, 8chan and a host of other sites related to QAnon conspiracy theories were briefly knocked offline after Guilmette called 8chan's anti-DDoS provider and convinced them to stop protecting the site from crippling online attacks.

The public face of 8chan is Jim Watkins, a pig farmer in the Philippines who many experts believe is also the person behind the shadowy persona of "Q" at the center of the conspiracy theory movement.

According to the California Secretary of State, Centauri's status as a business in the state is "Suspended." It appears that Centauri hasn't filed any business records with the state since 2009, and the state subsequently suspended the company's license to do business in Aug. 2012.

News URL

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/10/the-now-defunct-firms-behind-8chan-qanon/