Discord announced on January 8 that it would be shutting down a pro-Donald Trump server from its platform . The server, called “TheDonald,” allows people who support the former US President to gather online. However, that server was directly linked to the recently banned r/DonaldTrump subreddit and a separate discussion forum , thedonald.win .
Following the violence that occurred on January 6 at the Capitol by Trump supporters, resulting in five deaths, Reddit banned the subreddit r/DonaldTrump for allegedly “inciting violence.” Thedonald.win, which was an offshoot of the previously banned subreddit r/The_Donald, also incited violence.
A Discord spokesperson said via email : “While there is no evidence that this server was used to organize the riots that occurred on January 6th, Discord has decided to ban the server named “TheDonald” due to its open connection to an online forum used to incite violence, plan armed insurrection in the United States, and spread disinformation about alleged fraud in the 2020 US elections .”
This isn't the first time Discord has banned far-right extremists from its platform. In 2017, after the bloody "Unite the Right" protest in Charlottesville, Discord shut down a server that was linked to a racist, white supremacist site
The Discord spokesperson stressed that the company follows a zero-tolerance policy against hate and violence of any kind on the platform, or the use of its platform to support or organize around violent extremism.
Discord's move to shut down the Trump support server sparked an angry backlash from members of thedonald.win, who called Discord executives "pedos" (short for "paedophiles"), even saying that "these CEOs should be dragged into the street.".
Currently, discussions are taking place on thedonald.win about committing violence against politicians: "Hunt these corrupt politicians who stole the election. Then plan the next step, see who can get the high score."
