The TikTokers hope to crash the site
Pro-choice TikTokers and Reddit users have begun a campaign to fight against Texas’ extreme new abortion law by flooding a website encouraging people to report violators of the law with false reports, Shrek memes and porn.
The law, that came into force on Friday, makes it illegal for people to help women in the state access abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.
In order to help enforce the law, anti-abortion group Texas Right To Life has established a digital tip line where people can send anonymous information about people who have potentially violated the law.
The website reads: “Any Texan can bring a lawsuit against an abortionist or someone aiding and abetting an abortion after six weeks.”
Those proved to be breaking the law can be fined a minimum of $10,000. The site features a form that allows anyone to submit an anonymous “report” of someone illegally getting an abortion, with people even able to upload images as proof.
However, pro-choice Tiktokers have decided to take matters into their own hands, bombarding the website with fake reports.
Despite the site being launched a month ago, the fake reports came flooding in on the eve of the bill’s passing.
The campaign was organised on Reddit and Tiktok, with fake reports flooding into the site on the eve of the bill’s enactment. One Tiktoker said they had submitted 742 fake reports of Texas governor Greg Abbott, who passed the bill, getting illegal abortions.
The user encouraged others to do the same, writing: “It would be a shame if TikTok crashed the ProLifeWhistleBlower website.”
@travelingnurseIt would be a shame if TikTok crashed the Prolifewhistleblower.com website. Real shame.♬ Sure Thing (cover version) – daDonSpin
Another TikTok user showed how he uploaded Shrek memes claiming they were images proving “my wife aborted our baby 4 weeks into her pregnancy without my consulting me.”
@williamshaughn_#abortionispoggers #prochoice #abortion #abortionisahumanright♬ original sound – williamshaughn_
Other users encouraged people to upload image attachments containing porn.
https://twitter.com/ellepolloloca/status/1429855130841665539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1429855130841665539%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2021%2Fsep%2F02%2Ftexas-abortion-law-tiktok-reddit-whistleblower%3FCMP%3Dfb_guutm_medium%3DSocialutm_source%3DFacebookfbclid%3DIwAR2UI5Wb46CX-43PCE0Ik4SR8TyTcCyLleWWZVD-cBTpaThJwHRi7qSfJgYEchobox%3D1630649730
The TikTok-coordinated campaign is similar to that in June 2020, when TikTokers signed up for a Donald Trump rally with fake accounts, resulting in thousands of empty seats at the actual event.
Related links:
- US city votes to make abortion punishable with six months in prison
- Woman with Down’s syndrome takes Sajid Javid to court over abortion law
- Taliban captures and executes well-known Afghan TikTok comedian
