Hackers Hijack ISIS Twitter Accounts With Gay Porn After Orlando Attack

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Hackers have taken to Islamic State supporters' Twitter accounts to replace pro-ISIS imagery and messages, such as this profile, which now states: "I'm gay and proud." Screengrab

Twitter accounts belonging to supporters of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) have been hacked in the wake of the Orlando shooting, with jihadist content replaced with gay pride messages and links to gay pornography.

A hacker affiliated with the hacktivist collective Anonymous, who uses the online moniker WauchulaGhost, first began hijacking pro-ISIS Twitter accounts several months ago. Following the mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 13, the hacker decided to replace ISIS imagery posted to the accounts with rainbow flags and pro-LGBT messages.

"I did it for the lives lost in Orlando," the hacker tells Newsweek. "Daesh [ISIS] have been spreading and praising the attack, so I thought I would defend those that were lost. The taking of innocent lives will not be tolerated."

WauchulaGhost does not disclose his real name or exact location, other than to say he is based in the United States and that "shit is getting too close to home."

The vigilante hacker claims to have taken over 200 Twitter accounts belonging to ISIS supporters. However, many have since been taken down by Twitter. WauchulaGhost plans to continue the campaign with two other hackers who go by the name Ebony and Yeti.

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Some pro-ISIS accounts displayed rainbow flags, a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride. Screengrab

ISIS has used social media platforms like Twitter as a tool for recruitment and to spread propaganda. Twitter claims to have shut down more than 125,000 accounts promoting extremism since 2015.

Messages posted to the compromised accounts include "I'm gay and proud" and "Out and proud." A link to a gay porn site is included in some of the hacked accounts, although no explicit images have been posted in respect to Islam.

"One thing I do want to say is we aren't using graphic porn and our purpose is not to offend Muslims," WachulaGhost says. "Our actions are directed at Jihadist extremists. Many of our own [group of hackers] are Muslim and we respect all religions that do not take innocent lives."

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Anthony Cuthbertson is a staff writer at Newsweek, based in London.  

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