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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lady Gaga bomb plot: Thwarted plan lifts veil on the gamification of hate and gendered nature of online radicalization
The more than 2 million people who attended Lady Gaga's free concert on Copacabana Beach on May 3, 2025, had no idea of a plot that, if successful, would have turned the event into a tragedy fueled by hate. Just hours before a sea of admirers waved fans in sync with the singer during the event, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police thwarted a planned attack involving Molotov cocktails and improvised bombs – and targeting the American singer's LGBTQ following. Two people have since been arrested over the plot, which was organized by users of digital platforms such as Discord. The intent, authorities say, was radicalizing and recruiting teenagers to carry out the planned attack. Those responsible hoped to entice these young people into actions that would gain online notoriety. Although authorities were able to prevent the attack, the incident stands as a stark warning about the growth of hate networks among youth − and how platforms fuel the radicalization of teenagers, especially boys and young men. As experts in the anthropology of technology and information science, we see something deeply generational about this phenomenon. The recent Netflix series 'Adolescence' broke viewership records by portraying an environment in which young people live in hyperconnected online spheres, absent of state oversight and parental supervision. In these spheres, bullying toxic masculinity permeates, and violence – often targeted at women and sexual minorities – is normalized. The show was set in the U.K., but it holds up a mirror to the world. Data from polling company Gallup reveals a growing ideological divide between young men and women in Gen Z across the globe. Too often, that divide, in which young men and boys are turning against progressive values, is being expressed through actions associated with the 'manosphere,' such as misogyny and incel behavior. In the United States, women aged 18 to 30 are now 30 percentage points more liberal than their male counterparts, according to Gallup's surveys. In Germany, where a right-wing coalition recently won national elections and the extreme-right AfD party is rising in popularity at an alarming rate, the gap is also 30 points. In Poland, although the far-right left power at the end of 2023 after eight years, nearly half of men ages 18 to 21 support far-right parties − compared with just one-sixth of women in the same age range. This polarization is emerging just as online platforms such as Discord, TikTok and Reddit have become formative spaces of identity. Instead of promoting diversity, however, many of these platforms have been used as machines for producing and spreading hate. The 2021 study Mapping Discord's Darkside, published in the journal New Media & Society, shows that despite marketing efforts to distance itself from the far right, Discord hosts thousands of servers associated with neo-Nazi, misogynistic, racist, transphobic and conspiratorial discourse. Researchers identified 2,741 such servers − with more than 850,000 active members. These networks end up functioning as recruitment hubs, where young people − especially boys − are lured in by edgy memes, promises of belonging and identity games based on excluding others. Discord's structure, which prioritizes privacy and decentralization, has become fertile ground for the emergence of what scholar Adrienne Massanari calls 'toxic technocultures.' Services such as Disboard − an informal search engine for Discord servers − are used to recruit teens into communities that glorify Nazism, encourage hatred toward women and people from the LGBTQ+ community, and even offer 'services' for coordinated attacks on other servers. And this appears to be the case in the thwarted attack on the Lady Gaga concert. A significant factor in the success of these radicalizing environments is gamification − the use of gamelike elements such as challenges, rewards and leaderboards in nongame contexts. When applied to social networks and extremist forums, gamification turns engagement into competition and hate speech into a playful challenge. This practice makes the entrance into extremism more palatable for young, impressionable people by masking violence behind seemingly harmless mechanics. As noted in the European Commission's 2021 report Gamification and Online Hate Speech, gamification has become a powerful tool for normalizing and spreading hate, particularly among young people seeking recognition and belonging. This process, known as 'bottom-up gamification,' occurs when users create the rules, symbolic rewards and challenges. For example, by turning hate speech into 'challenges' that involve humiliating women or people from the LGBTQ+ community online, the dehumanization of targets is presented in playful, viral ways. The investigation into the foiled attack on Lady Gaga's Copacabana concert revealed exactly this mechanism: The attack was treated as a 'collective challenge,' with youths recruited to build Molotov cocktails and explosive backpacks in order to gain notoriety on social media. The logic of gamification also creates a structure of 'achievement' and 'scoring' that fosters competition and reinforces radical ideology. As shown in the 2022 study by criminologists Suraj Lakhani and Susann Wiedlitzka, attacks such as the 2019 mosque attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed, were planned and executed with strong inspiration from gaming, including live broadcasts similar to 'Let's Play' sessions, in which people offer live commentary during walk-throughs of games, typically first-person shooting games, and viewer comments that treat the number of deaths as a 'score.' This aestheticization of violence serves as a bonding element among young men in digital spaces, especially those who already feel marginalized or frustrated and who find in these games of hate a sense of belonging and affirmation. In this way, gamification transforms hate into entertainment, strengthening ties in toxic communities and making it harder to recognize the behavior as extremism. Society is, we believe, facing a dual challenge: the need for moderation of platforms and for support for measures preventing men and boys from being drawn into toxic digital spaces. The gender divide within Gen Z is no small matter, too. It reflects, in broad terms, a rift between a generation of young women who, empowered by #MeToo and other feminist movements, have embraced progressive causes, and a generation of men who, threatened by their perceived diminished power in this new environment, are being co-opted by far-right and misogynistic discourse in digital spaces. This gap has real consequences in personal relationships, in schools and for democracy at large. But it also reveals something that we believe must be stated clearly: Platform regulation is not just a technical issue. The future of a generation cannot be built on algorithms that reward hate and radicalization. This article is a translated and adapted version of a story that was originally published by The Conversation Brazil on May 8, 2025. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: David Nemer, University of Virginia and Arthur Coelho Bezerra, Instituto Brasileiro de Informação em Ciência e Tecnologia (Ibict) Read more: Radicalization pipelines: How targeted advertising on social media drives people to extremes Jan. 6 was an example of networked incitement − a media and disinformation expert explains the danger of political violence orchestrated over social media Syria faces renewed sectarian violence as government fails to deliver inclusivity The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
International Business Times
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Who Is Luis da Silva? Suspect Who Plotted to Kill Lady Gaga Fans at Concert Identified as Illegal Immigrant Who Was Recently Deported from US
The suspected terrorist who allegedly planned to kill Lady Gaga fans by plotting a horrifying attack at her record-breaking concert in Brazil has been identified by as an illegal immigrant who was deported from the United States just last month, Brazilian officials revealed on Monday. Luis da Silva, 44, allegedly planned to live-stream the killing of children and plant bombs near the stage during Lady Gaga's concert, which attracted over 2.5 million fans to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, according to the investigators. The threat was thwarted through a coordinated effort between Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro. Arrested and Jailed "He said that the singer was a Satanist and that he was going to perform a Satanist ritual too, killing a child during the show," Rio de Janeiro Civil Police secretary, officer Felipe Curi, told reporters on Monday. Dubbed Operation Fake Monster—a reference to Lady Gaga's fanbase, known as "Little Monsters"—the investigation identified people who were allegedly recruiting others, including minors, to launch attacks at the concert using improvised explosives. One teenager was reportedly arrested after police thwarted the bomb attack. "The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails," the police said in a statement. Investigators uncovered online groups using coded messages and extremist imagery to incite violent behavior among teens. Law enforcement carried more than a dozen search and seizure operations targeting 15 people in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. "The plan was treated as a 'collective challenge' with the aim of gaining notoriety on social media," police said. The 39-year-old pop star's concert was funded by the city in a bid to give a boost to Rio's economy, with estimates suggesting it could generate close to $100 million in revenue. "Tonight, we're making history. Thank you for making history with me," Lady Gaga told the ecstatic audience. Extensive Operation Led to Arrest The Ministry of Justice said that 15 search and seizure warrants were executed across the states of Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. Authorities seized electronic devices and other items from the homes of nine suspects who are currently being investigated. Social media accounts tied to the suspects reportedly contained hate-filled content targeting the LGBT+ community, children, and teens. The accounts also encouraged teen radicalization, self-harm, pedophilia, and the circulation of violent materials online. Investigators say the group intended to disguise the attack as a viral social media challenge. Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Secretary Felipe Curi said that those involved will face terrorism charges. ""They were planning a terrorist attack. That's why we're only disclosing the operation today, so as not to spread panic. It was an important operation that didn't interfere with the event, but prevented greater harm from happening," he said at a press briefing.
New York Post
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Suspected terrorist accused of planning to kill fans at Lady Gaga concert ID'd as illegal immigrant recently deported from US
A suspected terrorist who allegedly planned to kill Lady Gaga fans in a sickening attack on her record-breaking Brazil concert was deported from the US only last month, Brazilian authorities have revealed. Luis da Silva, 44, wanted to livestream the execution of children and set up bombs close to the stage during Gaga's performance to 2.5 million fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, investigators said. 'He said that the singer was a Satanist and that he was going to perform a Satanist ritual too, killing a child during the show,' Rio de Janeiro Civil Police secretary, officer Felipe Curi, told reporters on Monday.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Shocking identity of 'terrorist who tried to attack Lady Gaga concert' is revealed
As new details emerge in the shocking plot to commit an act or terror at a Lady Gaga concert, one of the suspects has been identified as a man who was deported from the United States just last month. The male suspect, who had lived in the U.S. for 27 years according to CNN, was planning on carrying out multiple attacks at the Grammy Award-winning singer's free show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night. Brazilian investigators discovered they man, whose name has not been released, held a 'spiritual war' with Lady Gaga and that the outline of attacks would have included the livestream of a child's execution and setting up bombs near the stage. The suspect, who also made threats via online chat groups, was charged with terrorism and promoting crime but was not arrested. 'He said that the singer was a Satanist and that he was going to perform a Satanist ritual too, killing a child during the show,' Rio de Janeiro Civil Police secretary, officer Felipe Curi said. Authorities are investigating whether his recent terror activity was motivated by his removal from the U.S. reached out to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment. Two suspects, an adult identified as Luis da Silva and a 17-year-old boy, were taken into custody after authorities used Discord as part of an attempt to sign up other people, including teens, to execute simultaneous attacks against children and members of LGBTQ+ community who were among the nearly 2.1 million people who attended the concert. 'They plan to use Molotov cocktails and explosive backpacks,' the police complaint said. Details of the operation were sealed and Lady Gaga and her staff were not informed because police did not want to cause any panic. Da Silva, who was identified as the ringleader and resides in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, was arrested on an illegal gun possession charge. He was released on bail Monday. São Paulo Congressman Erik Hilton was stunned that the police released da Silva on a bail bond. 'The man accused of being the leader of the group that planned a terrorist attack at Lady Gaga's concert was released by the courts in Rio Grande do Sul after paying bail,' Hilton wrote on X. 'The group he led also promoted pedophilia, misogyny and LGBTphobia through social media. In addition, at the time of his arrest, he was in possession of an illegal firearm.' The teen, whose name has not been released, was arrested at a home in Rio de Janeiro for possession of child pornography. It's unknown if he is still in police custody or if he was released. They were identified as members of an online hate community that spent time to indoctrinating young people and advocated the 'dissemination of hate crimes, self-harm, pedophilia and violent content,' authorities said. Brazilian authorities carried out search warrants against nine people in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and Mato Grosso. Police search the residence of a 16-year-old boy in São Vicente, a coastal city in São Paulo, and released him to his father after he confessed to being part of da Silva's network. The teenager also told police that his job was to create online profiles that spread hateful messages but denied having anything to do with the terror plot. Rio de Janeiro Civil Police chief Luiz Lima, who oversees the Department for the Repression of Computer Crimes, said the police response saved hundreds of lives. 'It was an integrated action that saved hundreds of lives,' Lima said. 'These groups, which are organized, have goals to achieve notoriety, to gather more spectators, more participants, the majority of whom are teenagers, many of them children.' Cops raided a home in São Vicente, a coastal town in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo, and arrested a 16-year-old boy who confessed to creating online profiles that spread hateful messages but denied having anything to do with the terror plot at Lady Gaga's concert Lady Gaga learned of the foiled attack via several news reports on Sunday, her representative told the Hollywood Reporter. 'We learned of this alleged threat through media reports this morning,' the representative said in statement. 'Prior to and during the show, there were no known security concerns, nor any communication from police or authorities to Lady Gaga about any potential risks.' The costs for Lady Gaga's concert was covered by Rio de Janeiro as part of an attempt to revitalize the economy as it's estimated it could bring in nearly $100 million. 'Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night's show—the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,' the 37-year-old Grammy Award winning artist said in an Instagram post.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brazilian police stop bomb attack targeting kids at Lady Gaga concert
May 4 (UPI) -- Brazilian police said they had prevented a bomb attack during Saturday night's free Lady Gaga concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro targeting children and the LGBTQ community. Rio de Janeiro Civil Police said in a statement that the group behind the planned attack had spread hate speech and prepared a plan "mainly against children," and was thwarted by a police operation named "Operation Fake Monster." The pop singer's fans are known as "Little Monsters" and the concert is estimated to have drawn more than 2 million fans to the famed beach. Teenagers were allegedly recruited by the planners of the attack to use improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails at the concert with the hopes of gaining notoriety on social media for the hate group, police said. The alleged leader of the group was arrested on suspicion of illegal possession of a firearm hundreds of miles away in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Police said that a teenager was arrested in Rio de Janeiro for storing child pornography. "The targets of the operation were operating on digital platforms, promoting the radicalization of adolescents, the dissemination of hate crimes, self-harm, pedophilia and violent content as a form of belonging and challenge among young people," police said. Authorities said that the operation was initiated by the intelligence gathering division of the Civil Police after discovering online messages using coded language and extremist symbolism. The investigation led to the execution of 15 search warrants on nine targets across Brazil. Police said that they seized a number of electronic devices and other materials that will be investigated further. An apparent third person was also arrested in Macaé, another city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, as part of the investigation, police said. That suspect had allegedly threatened to kill a child live on air and is charged with terrorism and inducing crime. Police said the operation was conducted "discreetly" without notifying the public to avoid "panic or distortion of information." A spokesperson for Lady Gaga told CNN on Sunday that the pop star and her team learned about this alleged threat through media reports. "Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks," the spokesperson said. "Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place."
