Social Media Users Flood Texas Anti-Abortion Snitch Site With Fake Accusations and Shrek Memes
The new anti-abortion bill in Texas is receiving overwhelming criticism from Democrats, social media users, and even one of the four Supreme Court justices that voted to uphold Roe vs. Wade. While grassroots efforts to launch Democratic candidates throughout the state are already underway, another citizen-driven campaign to shut down the Texas GOP has already become a viral sensation across several online platforms.
Users on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok were sharing their tips on how to overwhelm the website the Texas legislature has created for people to confidentially report someone they know is planning to get an abortion. The website, Prolifewhistleblower.com, asks for “help” to “enforce” the new and ironically named Texas Heartbeat Act, which makes illegal any abortion after 6 weeks, or roughly the time when a fetal heartbeat can potentially be detected. Most women don’t know they’re pregnant at that early stage, and often the fetal heartbeat cannot be detected until at least 10 weeks. The Act essentially gives all citizens, not just in Texas, the power of a community-based police force who can sue anyone who has or helps someone have an abortion for upwards of $10,000, all on top of banning abortion at about six weeks.
Once the online form is filled out and sent, the user gets a message thanking them and saying they will not be contacted for any follow-up, so it’s unclear how anyone is meant to collect the $10,000 reward. But it’s someone’s job to read every tip, and the hope is none of the real ones ever get through thanks to all of the fake ones.
Just so y’all know…prolifewhistleblower (the website to anonymously report people getting or helping people get abortions in Texas) is no longer taking anonymous tips because people have been submitting so many fake ones. Good job. ✊🏻
— TLDuryea (@TinaDuryea) September 2, 2021
Soon after the website went live, it was shared widely by abortion rights supporters and clever teens on Twitter, Reddit, and of course, TikTok, calling on the internet to rise up and render the tip line nonfunctional with spam. The calls to action caused a sensation; they quickly made it to Reddit’s front page, drew thousands of retweets on Twitter, and arguably most effectively mobilized the teens on TikTok.
Please spread far and wide. The website she referred to is at: www . Prolifewhistleblower . Compic.twitter.com/3YLStXiyht
— Piyush Mittal (@piyushmittal) September 2, 2021
Almost immediately, ProLifeWhistleBlower.com was inundated with nearly countless false reports, hate mail, and “Shrek” memes, some safe for work and others not so much. Enjoy a roundup of some of the more clever takes.
People are amazing. This guy made a bot to overwhelm that horrible tx site and when it banned his IP after 300ish entries, he made an iPhone work around that anyone can use https://t.co/4v6YQnOZ34 pic.twitter.com/aZpeyY2AT9
— I'm PREETI scary (@runwithskizzers) September 2, 2021
As part of the new draconian anti-woman law in Texas, they're asking for people to snitch on prolifewhistleblower-dot-com. Now, I'm NOT SAYING you should go flood their website with bogus anonymous tips, I'm just saying that it's a thing that could be done… pic.twitter.com/liJImNh441
— Chains K Murder Ballad (@JamesKBallard) September 2, 2021
@williamshaughn_ #abortionispoggers #prochoice #abortion #abortionisahumanright
Just a contribution to #prolifewhistleblower @tedcruz @GovAbbott #texas pic.twitter.com/SXeoBZ9dA4
— Tc (@TexasLife7) August 26, 2021
https://t.co/vCqwgka94g #Texas pic.twitter.com/YCmkEIHyOs
— T👻r👻 D🐈⬛bl💀n 🎃🧙🏻♀️ (@taradublinrocks) September 2, 2021
Nothing feels better than saving a life! 🙂 @GregAbbott_TX @tedcruz @DanPatrick #prolifewhistleblower pic.twitter.com/fFUJ61ZUY4
— jamie (@jamiebwrightt) September 2, 2021
Spamming the prolifewhistleblower page. #AbortionIsHealthcare pic.twitter.com/AtNGhKRMUI
— 🤠anna rose👽 (@ohthatgirlanna) September 2, 2021