Chris Wilson
@chrisjwilson.bsky.social
Researcher of political violence, particularly white nationalist terrorism, ethnic conflict and insurgency. University of Auckland, NZ.
Pinned
Chris Wilson
@chrisjwilson.bsky.social
· Jun 11
In this article, we compare the manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist and his more candid online posting on 4chan. We demonstrate how several claims he made in his manifesto were part of a sophisticated propaganda campaign and do not reflect his true views.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
In late 2024 FBI tipped off NZ Police to a man planning a mass stabbing at a mall or mosque. When raided the man had a knife, bayonet, video of the Christchurch attack and child pornography. He claimed he was seeking notoriety.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsq...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsq...
Hawke’s Bay extremist admits plot for mass stabbing after FBI tip-off
YouTube video by nzherald.co.nz
m.youtube.com
October 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In late 2024 FBI tipped off NZ Police to a man planning a mass stabbing at a mall or mosque. When raided the man had a knife, bayonet, video of the Christchurch attack and child pornography. He claimed he was seeking notoriety.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsq...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dnsq...
Such a good thread.
10/n As terrorism continues to quickly evolve, we are going to see, through digital footprints etc., far more "personal" data. If we think that undermines or lessens the importance of ideological influences shaping an event, we have misunderstood human psychology as well as contemporary terrorism.
September 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Such a good thread.
Reposted by Chris Wilson
In messages to his roommate/partner, Kirk's alleged killer Tyler Robinson, wrote that the engravings on his shell casings were "mostly a big meme" which supports our earlier reporting not to try and attribute much too meaning to them. But the new texts suggest a pretty clear ideological motive.
September 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
In messages to his roommate/partner, Kirk's alleged killer Tyler Robinson, wrote that the engravings on his shell casings were "mostly a big meme" which supports our earlier reporting not to try and attribute much too meaning to them. But the new texts suggest a pretty clear ideological motive.
Aussie MP Bob Katter denies link to the megaphone held by a neo-Nazi member of NSN, covered in runes like those used by the Australian terrorist in Christchurch. Denying being a Nazi or antisemitic, Katter stated he's actually “the leader of the anti-Gazan mob” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Bob Katter distances himself from neo-Nazi group associated with megaphone at anti-immigration protest
Separately, Greens call on Queensland MP to ‘apologise or resign’ for verbal altercation with Channel Nine reporter last week
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Aussie MP Bob Katter denies link to the megaphone held by a neo-Nazi member of NSN, covered in runes like those used by the Australian terrorist in Christchurch. Denying being a Nazi or antisemitic, Katter stated he's actually “the leader of the anti-Gazan mob” www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
If you are attacking an Indigenous site and people it's not only opposition to immigration that is driving you. It's also an act intended to advance a political, ideological cause that causes serious harm. There are specific laws for that.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Neo-Nazis attack Indigenous protest site after anti-immigration rally in Melbourne as officer allegedly assaulted in Sydney
At least 50 men, mostly clad in black, approached Camp Sovereignty as sun was setting on Sunday. Four people were injured
www.theguardian.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:13 AM
If you are attacking an Indigenous site and people it's not only opposition to immigration that is driving you. It's also an act intended to advance a political, ideological cause that causes serious harm. There are specific laws for that.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
On the difficulty of finding 'Freeman' in the bush: www.smh.com.au/national/vic...
High Country hide and seek: How hunt for accused shooter Dezi Freeman could unfold
Near-impenetrable alpine bushland and the risk of further ambushes are likely to force police to take a cautious approach.
www.smh.com.au
August 27, 2025 at 7:11 AM
On the difficulty of finding 'Freeman' in the bush: www.smh.com.au/national/vic...
2 police officers shot dead in country Victoria, reportedly by a sovereign citizen: www.smh.com.au/national/vic...
Victoria Police shooting LIVE updates: Two officers shot dead and one wounded after ambush in High Country
Two officers are dead and another wounded after a shooting at a rural property in Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. Follow our live updates.
www.smh.com.au
August 26, 2025 at 4:07 AM
2 police officers shot dead in country Victoria, reportedly by a sovereign citizen: www.smh.com.au/national/vic...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
These people know nothing about our professions, yet they presume to tell us confidently that AI will "replace" us and it matters what they say because the people in charge of funding universities sadly take their guidance not from faculty but from techbros/companies like this.
Kiran Tomlinson has no experience working in these fields, what archives has he visited? What oral histories has he collected? Why should we be buying his analysis of how AI will replace us? Neither have @soniajaffe.bsky.social, Will Wang, Scott Counts or Siddharth Suri.
They know NOTHING.
They know NOTHING.
![Kiran Tomlinson
Kiran Tomlinson
Senior Researcher
Microsoft Research
About
I’m a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research in the AI Interaction and Learning group, where I’m working on understanding and improving the interactions between people and their LLM-based assistants. More broadly, my research studies preferences and decision-making through algorithmic and machine learning methods.
I recently completed my PhD in Computer Science at Cornell University, where I was fortunate to be advised by Jon Kleinberg. My dissertation was on human decision-making at the individual and collective level. During my PhD, I interned at Microsoft Research with Jennifer Neville on recommendations in networks and at Microsoft’s Office of Applied Research with Longqi Yang and Mengting Wan on multi-organization recommendation. In Winter and Spring 2023, I was a visiting instructor at Carleton College teaching Data Structures and Mathematics of Computer Science.
When away from my desk, I spend my time learning to fly, playing guitar, building 8-bit computers, playing video games, biking, listening to music, flying quadcopters, bouldering, and playing pool. I have additional interests in spaceflight, Premier League football, and Formula 1.
[High-res headshot] [CV of Failures]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7a4j47j42ezdr3au7pxdlzjt/bafkreid34gapxekxiixlglxiwnoh6dwd2yhxtjhsbl5pnhpkfgqtvaw5aa@jpeg)
July 31, 2025 at 5:37 PM
These people know nothing about our professions, yet they presume to tell us confidently that AI will "replace" us and it matters what they say because the people in charge of funding universities sadly take their guidance not from faculty but from techbros/companies like this.
In this article, we compare the manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist and his more candid online posting on 4chan. We demonstrate how several claims he made in his manifesto were part of a sophisticated propaganda campaign and do not reflect his true views.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
June 11, 2025 at 1:55 AM
In this article, we compare the manifesto of the Christchurch terrorist and his more candid online posting on 4chan. We demonstrate how several claims he made in his manifesto were part of a sophisticated propaganda campaign and do not reflect his true views.
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
I struggle to come to grips with the term 'nihilistic extremism'. I'm old fashioned in thinking that extremism (like terrorism) is designed to achieve something. The term seems like an oxymoron.
May 21, 2025 at 1:45 AM
I struggle to come to grips with the term 'nihilistic extremism'. I'm old fashioned in thinking that extremism (like terrorism) is designed to achieve something. The term seems like an oxymoron.
Threat against Sydney mosque referencing the Christchurch attack: www.smh.com.au/national/i-m...
‘I’m about to christ church 2.0 this joint’: Mass shooting threats against new Sydney mosque
The threat referencing the massacre in Christchurch was left on the Instagram page of the Australian Islamic House Masjid.
www.smh.com.au
March 4, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Threat against Sydney mosque referencing the Christchurch attack: www.smh.com.au/national/i-m...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
This looks very interesting www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The Role of Ideology in Motivating Lone Actor Terrorism: An Analysis of the Online Record of the Christchurch Terrorist
This article considers how ideology motivates lone actor terrorists to use violence. A significant body of literature in terrorism studies sees ideology as a much less important driver of terrorist...
www.tandfonline.com
March 4, 2025 at 3:01 AM
This looks very interesting www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
French video game gave its new Christchurch born Māori character a birth date of 15 March (the date of the 2019 terrorist attack in the city) www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
Popular video game updates avatar after controversy over Christchurch mosque attack date
Ubisoft has been slammed online for the Christchurch terror attack linking as well as having a fake iwi.
www.stuff.co.nz
February 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
French video game gave its new Christchurch born Māori character a birth date of 15 March (the date of the 2019 terrorist attack in the city) www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...
I only have 20 followers on Bluesky but I thought better to share this new article here than on X (for obvious reasons). Using the previously undetected online record of the Chch terrorist we consider the role of ideology in his pathway to violence: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The Role of Ideology in Motivating Lone Actor Terrorism: An Analysis of the Online Record of the Christchurch Terrorist
This article considers how ideology motivates lone actor terrorists to use violence. A significant body of literature in terrorism studies sees ideology as a much less important driver of terrorist...
www.tandfonline.com
February 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I only have 20 followers on Bluesky but I thought better to share this new article here than on X (for obvious reasons). Using the previously undetected online record of the Chch terrorist we consider the role of ideology in his pathway to violence: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Australian National Socialist Network and other neo-Nazis and white nationalists increasingly emboldened, with their leaders back on X and thriving.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Musk’s X enables Australia’s neo-Nazis, warn Coalition and online watchdog
White supremacists and leaders of Australia’s National Socialist Network (NSN) were previously banned or censored on X before returning in the past year or so.
www.theage.com.au
February 2, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Australian National Socialist Network and other neo-Nazis and white nationalists increasingly emboldened, with their leaders back on X and thriving.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
“Once school starts again, Another Christchurch will happen."
Per @seamushughes.bsky.social and Court Watch, a Tennessee man whose "hatred was far-reaching" was arrested plotting a white supremacist attack. www.courtwatch.news/p/like-brent...
Per @seamushughes.bsky.social and Court Watch, a Tennessee man whose "hatred was far-reaching" was arrested plotting a white supremacist attack. www.courtwatch.news/p/like-brent...
“Like Brenton”: Tennessee Man Arrested for Mass Shooting Plot at Mosque
Gunner Fisher was arrested in late December and indicted today for communicating a threat. DOJ says he fantasized about mass shootings, had a rifle, repeatedly used racial epithets, and said he was go...
www.courtwatch.news
January 17, 2025 at 12:25 AM
“Once school starts again, Another Christchurch will happen."
Per @seamushughes.bsky.social and Court Watch, a Tennessee man whose "hatred was far-reaching" was arrested plotting a white supremacist attack. www.courtwatch.news/p/like-brent...
Per @seamushughes.bsky.social and Court Watch, a Tennessee man whose "hatred was far-reaching" was arrested plotting a white supremacist attack. www.courtwatch.news/p/like-brent...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
The Madison, Wisconsin school shooter was a radfem Columbine-worshipper who followed "radfem Hitler". Garrison Davis dug into her online presence and wrote this to explain what the hell all that means and why the right wants us to think she was transgender.
shatterzone.substack.com/p/the-madiso...
shatterzone.substack.com/p/the-madiso...
The Madison, Wisconsin School Shooter Was A "Femcel" Columbine Copycat: Here's What That Means
Also: why the far-right wants you to believe she was transgender
shatterzone.substack.com
December 18, 2024 at 3:07 AM
The Madison, Wisconsin school shooter was a radfem Columbine-worshipper who followed "radfem Hitler". Garrison Davis dug into her online presence and wrote this to explain what the hell all that means and why the right wants us to think she was transgender.
shatterzone.substack.com/p/the-madiso...
shatterzone.substack.com/p/the-madiso...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
A Nazi sympathiser has been found by a court to have prepared a terrorism attack on an immigration law firm after choosing them as a target after reading a Daily Mail article. He carried a Nazi flag & a knife into a solicitors' offices in 2020 and then attacked the staff
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Court finds neo-Nazi Cavan Medlock planned attack at law firm
Cavan Medlock had a Nazi flag and a knife when he targeted the immigration law firm, a court finds.
www.bbc.com
December 12, 2024 at 1:29 AM
A Nazi sympathiser has been found by a court to have prepared a terrorism attack on an immigration law firm after choosing them as a target after reading a Daily Mail article. He carried a Nazi flag & a knife into a solicitors' offices in 2020 and then attacked the staff
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
My new piece for the New York Times, where I make the case that we need a lot more education to deal with disinformation, not more censorship and fact checks
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/s...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/s...
Education Is Key to Fighting Disinformation on Social Media
In our interconnected modern world, education is critical in the fight against disinformation.
www.nytimes.com
December 6, 2024 at 9:36 PM
My new piece for the New York Times, where I make the case that we need a lot more education to deal with disinformation, not more censorship and fact checks
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/s...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/s...
"An unprecedented coordinated plea from security agencies in the Five Eyes countries – Australia, the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand – for their citizens to do more to stop young people falling prey to radical, violent ideologies": www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Two Australian teens convicted under counter-terrorism laws as AFP and Asio warn of ‘early signs of radicalisation’
Agencies urge parents, teachers and healthcare workers to be vigilant, paying particular attention to gaming sites and messaging platforms
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2024 at 8:24 PM
"An unprecedented coordinated plea from security agencies in the Five Eyes countries – Australia, the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand – for their citizens to do more to stop young people falling prey to radical, violent ideologies": www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Chris Wilson
“You cannot condemn” human rights violations around the world, Mr. Sanders said on the Senate floor on Wednesday, “and then turn a blind eye to what the United States is now funding in Israel — people will laugh in your face.”
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/u...
Democrats Split as Senate Rejects Bills to Block Weapons Transfers to Israel
The legislation failed resoundingly but highlighted a growing Democratic divide over whether the United States should withhold some weapons to register its disapproval of Israel’s war tactics.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2024 at 3:44 PM
“You cannot condemn” human rights violations around the world, Mr. Sanders said on the Senate floor on Wednesday, “and then turn a blind eye to what the United States is now funding in Israel — people will laugh in your face.”
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/u...