Twitter bans prominent QAnon figures, including Michael Flynn, citing 'potential for violence'

Twitter is finally fed up with QAnon.

The social media giant banned several prominent figures in the QAnon conspiracy theory movement Friday. Those banned include Michael Flynn and Sydney Powell, Donald Trump's disgraced former national security advisor and disgraced former campaign lawyer, respectively. In addition, Twitter banned Jim and Ron Watkins — a father and son combo with deep ties to 8Kun, the successor to white supremacist breeding ground 8chan and home to the QAnon movement.

The Qanon movement has famously played a role in inspiring real-world violence, including the seizing of the U.S. Capitol building by pro-Trump extremists.

What remains of a sad account. Credit: screenshot / twitter

Ron Watkins is the former site administrator of 8kun. Many believe his father, Jim Watkins, has posted as "Q," — the supposedly anonymous figure behind the conspiracy movement. Jim Watkins owns 8kun.

In addition to his work on 8kun, Watkins was cited as a "large systems technical analyst" by OANN as it tried to delegitimize the election of now president-elect Joe Biden.

Twitter says it took the action Friday in response to the accounts' violations of its policies.

"The accounts have been suspended in line with our policy on Coordinated Harmful Activity," confirmed a Twitter spokesperson. "We've been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm, and given the renewed potential for violence surrounding this type of behavior in the coming days, we will permanently suspend accounts that are solely dedicated to sharing QAnon content." 

SEE ALSO: Reddit just banned r/DonaldTrump for 'inciting violence'

Other prominent accounts belonging to online personalities who have promoted QAnon conspiracies across social media for years were also banned Friday.

Twitter's removal of the QAnon-boosting accounts comes on the heels of five deaths following the Capitol siege. Earlier on Friday, Reddit banned a popular pro-Trump subreddit for "inciting violence."