8chan Is Back from the Internet Grave — and It Has a New Name (2024)

The owners of 8chan, the defunct message board that was filled with hate speech and hosted the rants of at least three mass shooters, are preparing to relaunch the site under a new name — and they want their old hate-speech enthusiast users to sign up.

The site is set to be rebranded and relaunched as 8kun, and its owner, NT Technology, is calling on the operators of the old message boards on 8chan to contact them in order to get them back up and running.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the operators said: “If you were previously a Board Owner on 8chan, please email us at admin@8kun.net with your shared secret if you are interested in migrating your board to 8kun.”

https://twitter.com/infinitechan/status/1181796277392011265

The “shared secret” refers to an account-recovery system that includes a randomly generated password given to board owners only once. If their board gets hacked, the admins could send the password to 8chan’s admin to regain control of the board.

8chan was taken offline in the wake of the El Paso shooting in August, because web infrastructure companies like Cloudflare pulled their support.

The man suspected of conducting the massacre in the El Paso Walmart on Aug. 3 posted a four-page rant to 8chan attempting to explain his actions. In March, the man who allegedly killed dozens of people at two New Zealand mosques posted a screed to the site just before the attack. Weeks later, the suspect in the shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California, did the same.

So far very little is known about what Jim Watkins, owner of NT Technology, and his son Ron, who was 8chan’s administrator, are planning with 8kun.

The official Twitter account of 8kun posted a Hollywood-style video on Sunday revealing the 8kun name and logo (a snake in the shape of an 8) with the video featuring flames, thunder and lightning, and some very dramatic music.

The name appears to be an attempt to show the website is growing up. In Japanese, the suffix “chan” typically refers to a child, while “kun” typically refers to a young man.

https://twitter.com/infinitechan/status/1181054604097642496

The new website is offline, but it has been registered with Tucows, the same company that banned 8chan in August. Tucows told VICE News that it was unaware of the situation and was looking into it.

READ: How 8chan was born — and became the worst place on the internet

Ron Watkins, who has been periodically promising a return for 8chan in recent months, tweeted on Sunday: “After a few weeks of building new groundwork to better protect user privacy and security, we are now in the final stretches before getting things back online. Beta testing of infrastructure in progress — verifying and confirming that all systems are functioning as expected.”

In September, in response to 8chan’s role in the series of mass shootings, the House Homeland Security Committee subpoenaed Jim Watkins to testify in a closed-door session, which lasted for hours.

READ: 8chan’s owner will tell Congress his site is about Video Game Tips and ‘Down-Home Recipes.’ Oh, and Mass Shootings.

In a prepared statement submitted to the committee, Watkins said 8chan “may come back online, but only when 8chan is able to develop additional tools to counter illegal content under United States law.”

Fred Brennan, the estranged founder of 8chan, calls the rebuild and re-brand effort a cynical attempt to make people think 8kun is completely different than 8chan.

Brennan says he doesn’t think a lot of people will sign up, but says that the success of 8kun hinges on the return of the QAnon crowd.

QAnon, a wild conspiracy theory that revolves around the claim that deep-state liberal elites are running a child sex trafficking ring, has captured the imaginations of President Trump’s most ardent MAGA supporters. QAnon supporters regularly appear at Trump’s rallies, and the FBI has warned that the movement could inspire domestic terrorists.

The conspiracy theory’s mysterious leader “Q” told his followers that his communications would never occur outside of 8chan and that 8chan was the military’s chosen platform for leaking intel.

So when 8chan went offline in August, the QAnon community were left adrift.

“I expect one of his first “drops” on 8kun will be to post a key so that “Q” can use other platforms in the future,” Brennan said. “That’s why, if you ask me, it’s so crucial that 8kun never be allowed to fully come online — if it does, QAnon can spread. Without it, QAnon is essentially dead.”

Cover: Jim Watkins/YouTube.

8chan Is Back from the Internet Grave — and It Has a New Name (2024)
Top Articles
Henny Harket
Jeep Cherokee Autotrader
Genesis Parsippany
Lexi Vonn
The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia
Chalupp's Pizza Taos Menu
877-668-5260 | 18776685260 - Robocaller Warning!
Stolen Touches Neva Altaj Read Online Free
Canelo Vs Ryder Directv
414-290-5379
Ktbs Payroll Login
Crusader Kings 3 Workshop
What Happened To Maxwell Laughlin
Restaurants Near Paramount Theater Cedar Rapids
Tracking Your Shipments with Maher Terminal
735 Reeds Avenue 737 & 739 Reeds Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 - MLS# 20240686 | CENTURY 21
6813472639
5 high school volleyball stars of the week: Sept. 17 edition
fort smith farm & garden - craigslist
Inside the life of 17-year-old Charli D'Amelio, the most popular TikTok star in the world who now has her own TV show and clothing line
China’s UberEats - Meituan Dianping, Abandons Bike Sharing And Ride Hailing - Digital Crew
Hewn New Bedford
Ivegore Machete Mutolation
Somewhere In Queens Showtimes Near The Maple Theater
Hampton University Ministers Conference Registration
Craigslist Illinois Springfield
Costco Gas Hours St Cloud Mn
Www.craigslist.com Austin Tx
University Of Michigan Paging System
Breckiehill Shower Cucumber
Stockton (California) – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
UAE 2023 F&B Data Insights: Restaurant Population and Traffic Data
How To Improve Your Pilates C-Curve
R/Mp5
Ripsi Terzian Instagram
Urban Blight Crossword Clue
Rust Belt Revival Auctions
Pillowtalk Podcast Interview Turns Into 3Some
Edict Of Force Poe
Raising Canes Franchise Cost
Alpha Asher Chapter 130
Craigslist Free Manhattan
My Locker Ausd
Colorado Parks And Wildlife Reissue List
Florida Lottery Claim Appointment
Sarahbustani Boobs
Nu Carnival Scenes
Booknet.com Contract Marriage 2
Access to Delta Websites for Retirees
Julies Freebies Instant Win
Tenichtop
Aspen.sprout Forum
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 5875

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.