Simon Wiesenthal Center Demands Telegram, other Social Media Channels to Remove COVID-19 Posts to Kill Jews

April 3, 2020

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), a leading Jewish human rights NGO that monitors online hate and terrorism is demanding that Telegram and other social media channels remove postings that have weaponized COVIS19 epidemic to openly target Jews.

“Extremists are trying to capitalize on the climate of uncertainty and fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic to urge attacks against Jews," declared Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the SWC’s Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action.

“We have communicated directly with Telegram to demand they remove these pernicious and dangerous postings which could inspire lone wolf attacks against the Jewish community.”

“We are also calling on the Justice Department and its FBI to investigate the source of these threats and take appropriate action," the SWC official added.

“I met personally last month with Attorney General Barr before the outbreak of the global pandemic and know of his concern and commitment. We will share what we know with law enforcement agencies and expect they will fully investigate these latest vicious postings," Rabbi Cooper concluded.

In a related development, the SWC is releasing a new study, Deadly New Virus Intersects with History’s Oldest Hate: Report and Analysis . The cover of the report is one of the anti-Semitic online posters Center researchers have recently uncovered on social media.

The report is available at http://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/brackman-1.html

For more on the subject view https://www.foxnews.com/us/coronavirus-antisemitism-social-media-attacks.amp?cmpid=prn_newsstand​

For further information, please contact the Center’s Communications Department at pressinquiries@wiesenthal.com join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization numbering over 400.000 members. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).