Luigi Mangione -- the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson -- has been greeted by a surge of enthusiastic online support.

Less than two weeks after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down on the streets of midtown Manhattan, his alleged assassin Luigi Mangione has been greeted not by universal condemnation for the brazen violence – but rather, a surge of enthusiastic support online for his so-called vigilante justice.

The Center for Internet Security (CIS), a nonprofit focused on cybersecurity that partners with government and law enforcement, released a new threat assessment bulletin warning that online support for the alleged shooter risks encouraging copycat attacks.

“Overwhelming bipartisan support for the attack” across social media “has resulted in several narratives encouraging similar violent activities directed at other healthcare executive teams,” CIS analysts said.

“The narratives supporting Mangione’s targeted attack likely serve to encourage like-minded individuals, particularly as Mangione continues to be viewed by the public as an ‘American hero’ and sympathetic figure,” CIS’ bulletin said.

    • YippieKyeAy@lemmy.world
      0·
      6 days ago

      You know, if they stopped doing shady shit and unjustifiably killing people they wouldn’t have to be. Pretty simple stuff. If they took protection and serve to heart people would truly appreciate them and they would get the attention they desire.

      • Apytele@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        4 days ago

        I’ve long said that police should be licensed to enforce the law the same way as doctors and nurses have to be licensed to provide medical care. They should have to go to school for 2+ years (usually +, 2 for rural / hard to staff areas), sit for board exams, and have to defend their license to that board if they’re caught getting up to no good (including improper record keeping). They should be encouraged to pay for malpractice insurance to hire a lawyer to defend that license in case of frivolous / wrongful challenges to their license, but if those reports keep happening (like if they’re toeing the line too closely), that insurance will get progressively too expensive to keep them afloat and push them out of practice. Sometimes even medical professionals forget that the boards aren’t there to serve us, they’re to protect the public from us, and I feel like the police could really benefit from a similar licensing body.