QAnon, an absurd conspiracy theory that dominates Facebook in the US

A strange and absurd conspiracy theory, QAnon, is gaining traction among far-right activists on Facebook. Without any factual basis, its followers believe that President Donald Trump is waging a secret war against a "deep state." In other words, against a conspiracy orchestrated by Democrats and Hollywood stars involved in a pedophilia and sex trafficking ring.

According to The Guardian, which conducted an extensive investigation into QAnon, this theory evolved from Pizzagate. In March 2016, months before the presidential election, the email account of John Podesta, campaign manager for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, was the target of a phishing attack. In November, WikiLeaks released personal emails purportedly belonging to Podesta. Proponents of the conspiracy theory claim the emails contained coded messages linking restaurants and senior Democratic Party officials to an alleged human trafficking ring. The theory was spread by elements of the American right on Twitter and 4chan.

Although the FBI has already identified QAnon as a possible terrorist threat, there are several elements of the Republican Party who defend this conspiracy theory and are candidates in the upcoming November elections.