Conspiracy theorists, who subscribe to the idea of a clandestine group involved in child sex trafficking, have directed their attention toward another online marketplace: Etsy, a platform recognized for selling handmade goods.
Some social media users claim to identify “suspicious listings” on Etsy, such as high-priced downloadable images of pizza, using them as supposed evidence that the platform is engaged in the trafficking of children for abuse.
Amid the holiday shopping season, a QAnon supporter shared screenshots from the website on X (formerly known as Twitter), urging others not to be deceived by misinformation.
These rumors are rooted in the widely discredited “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory, which falsely linked a Washington pizza restaurant to an imaginary child sex trafficking ring involving prominent Democrats. The theory gained attention in 2016 when a man from North Carolina fired shots at the restaurant, mistakenly believing he was investigating the alleged crimes. He was subsequently arrested and sentenced to prison.
Etsy refuted the trafficking allegations in a statement to AFP, asserting that it found no evidence of a threat to child safety. However, the company removed the pizza-related posts, deeming them seemingly illegitimate.
A similar false theory emerged in 2020, accusing the online retailer Wayfair of operating a sex trafficking scheme disguised as furniture sales. In both cases, social media users shared screenshots of items with seemingly inflated prices.
Despite no evidence linking either retailer to human trafficking, these allegations have gained traction among supporters of the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory. Public figures like commentator Liz Crokin and former national security adviser Michael Flynn have amplified these unfounded claims.
Bond Benton, an associate professor of public relations at Montclair State University and an expert on extremist groups, remarked, “Social media just magnifies and speeds up the process. This sort of mentality takes us to a really dangerous place where I can sort of rationalize violence against people that I don’t like.”
The Musk factor
The recent resurgence of child trafficking theories, including those targeting Etsy, coincided with increased attention due in part to a mention by Elon Musk. Musk shared a meme on X in late November asserting, “Pizzagate is real.”
Mike Fenster, a law professor at the University of Florida and an expert on conspiracy theories, noted that influencers often embrace QAnon-related narratives to enhance their social media presence.
Benton emphasized the undeniable correlation between Musk’s mention and the Etsy claims. Research he conducted alongside Daniela Peterka-Benton, director of the Global Center on Human Trafficking, revealed that Musk’s posts led to over a 9,500 percent increase in Pizzagate-related activity on X compared to the previous month.
Peterka-Benton expressed concern that these conspiracy theories distort the understanding of human trafficking, potentially impacting funding, policies, and public perception in ways that harm victims. One reason for the enduring appeal of such narratives is that promoters often encourage others to “research” the topic independently, which may involve connecting dots in a manner consistent with conspiracy beliefs rather than objective investigation.
