Facebook to ban QAnon-themed groups, pages and accounts in crackdown

Policy update comes after the company's initial attempt failed to stem misinformation and harm from the conspiracy theory

Facebook will ban any groups, pages or Instagram accounts that represent" QAnon, the company announced Tuesday, in a sharp escalation of its attempt to crack down on the antisemitic conspiracy theory that has thrived on its platform.

The policy will apply to groups, pages or Instagram accounts whose names or descriptions suggest that they are dedicated to the QAnon movement, a Facebook spokesperson explained. It will not apply to individual content, nor to individual Instagram users who post frequently about QAnon but do not explicitly identify themselves as representing the QAnon movement.