TheEpochTimes: FBI Tells Americans to Report ‘Family Members and Peers’ in Tweet, Gets Blowback
The FBI is receiving criticism for a tweet it posted on July 11 that suggests Americans should monitor “family members and peers” for signs of “mobilization to violence” and report “suspicious behaviors” in an effort to prevent extremist activities.
“Family members and peers are often best positioned to witness signs of mobilization to violence. Help prevent homegrown violent extremism. Visit https://go.usa.gov/x6mjf to learn how to spot suspicious behaviors and report them to the #FBI,” the tweet read. It also included two photos of an individual highlighted in red accessing a computer.
Within the tweet is a link to a government booklet (pdf) written in 2015 regarding signs that someone might be considering violence, but the publication mainly pertains to Islamist terrorist organizations including ISIS and al-Qaeda.
“It is important to consider the totality of circumstances when observing potential indicators, as some factors may increase the risk of extremist violence in a given situation,” the booklet says, adding that some factors include an individual who has an “inability to cope with changes or perceived failures in relationships, school, or career.”
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