Washington state residents who complained about businesses violating lockdown measures received personal threats after stay-at-home protesters shared their personal information on Facebook.
The Washington Three Percenters and Reopen Washington State—two groups who have been protesting Democratic Governor Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order—posted the names, email addresses and phone numbers of Washingtonains who have submitted formal complaints to the state against business that have allegedly remained open or violated coronavirus mitigation measures under the stay-at-home order.
After their personal information was shared on two Facebook pages over the past week, some of the individuals named said they received harassment and threats of violence, according to local reports.
The Washington Three Percenters, a far-right group self-described on Facebook as "God Fearing Patriots," shared the following message to their social media account: "Want to snitch on your neighbor? Don't expect to hide behind you (sic) computer screen." The group then also released a spreadsheet with the names and contact details of residents who have lodged a complaint to state officials to date.
Chelsea Hodgson, spokesperson for the Washington Joint Information Center, a state agency that is assisting the COVID-19 pandemic response, told the Seattle Times that the group likely obtained all the information through public-record requests to state authorities.
"Several individuals made public disclosure requests for the complaints that have been filed to date," Hodgson said. "This list was likely generated and shared by one of those individuals."
Hodgson noted that the complaint web form states that the information provided may be released publicly but allows for residents to file a complaint anonymously.
One woman from King County, who submitted a complaint and was later on the list shared by the Washington Three Percenters, said that she immediately began receiving threats via email and phone messages. She asked to remain anonymous out of fear she would receive further threats.
In one phone message, reviewed by the Times, a man can be heard saying: "You got 48 hours to get the [expletive] out of Washington, or I am coming for you, and your loved ones." Another female harasser told her in a voice message: "I hope you choke on the [expletive] virus."
The woman told the publication that she would have never made the complaint against the business if she knew her "personal information would be given to people who would use it to attack me."
"I was just trying to be a good citizen," she added.
The Washington Three Percenters' leader, Matt Marshall, defended the sharing of personal information during a rally on Saturday. The information was public record, he said, adding that business owners who are going under have a right to face their accuser.
Newsweek reached out to Inslee's office for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
As of May 10, more than 17,000 individuals had tested positive for coronavirus in Washington state, with 923 deaths caused by the new disease. Overall, the U.S. has a total of 1,365,200 COVID-19 cases, with 80,700 deaths and 240,800 recoveries.
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