Fundraising platform Donorbox is letting anti-vax conspiracy theorists and QAnon figures raise...

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https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fundraising-platform-donorbox-letting-anti-vax-conspiracy-theorists-and-qanon

Fundraising platform Donorbox is allowing multiple anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists and QAnon figures to raise money -- including the group behind the viral coronavirus misinformation video Plandemic -- even though the platform’s rules seem to prohibit these users’ campaigns.

According to Donorbox’s Acceptable Usage Policy, the platform prohibits activity related to “campaigns that are fraudulent, misleading, inaccurate, dishonest, impossible or imitating any other person or fundraising campaign without permission (whether on the Platform or not).” It also prohibits users from “engaging in, encouraging, promoting, or celebrating unlawful violence or physical harm to persons or property.”

Despite those rules, a Media Matters review has found at least eight groups or figures that have spread false coronavirus conspiracy theories or the QAnon conspiracy theory using Donorbox to solicit donations. Donorbox charges a platform fee of 1.5% per month’s donations, meaning the platform possibly makes money from these accounts.

COVID-19 conspiracy theory groups

The creators of Plandemic are using Donorbox to raise money. Plandemic is a viral coronavirus misinformation video that pushed a litany of false claims, including the claim that masks are harmful. (The group later released a Plandemic sequel that was also full of misinformation.) The Plandemic website states that the creators are “currently raising funds for the production and marketing cost of Plandemic 3” and asks people to “contribut[e] to this urgent cause.” Below that request is a “donate” button that forwards visitors to a donation page that uses Donorbox.

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