Fact check: How does the FBI define and track left-wing extremist groups in the USA?

1. Summary of the results

The FBI defines and tracks left-wing extremist groups under the broader category of 'domestic violent extremism' (DVE), which includes violence motivated by racial or ethnic hatred, anti-government sentiment, and other ideologies ^[1]. The FBI avoids using the term 'far right' and instead uses more neutral categories such as 'racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism' (REMVE) and 'anti-government or anti-authority violent extremism' (AGAAVE) ^[1]. The FBI's approach to tracking extremist groups is limited by the First Amendment, which protects free speech and requires the agency to focus on individual offenders rather than groups ^[1]. The FBI maintains that it does not investigate people for being antisemitic or holding bigoted views, but only when those views translate into violent action or plotting ^[1]. Left-wing extremist groups, such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF), have been tracked by the FBI for their involvement in vandalism and property damage ^[2]. The FBI has also tracked the rise of Antifa, a decentralized network of far-left militants that oppose fascist, racist, or right-wing extremists ^[2]. According to the CSIS brief, left-wing terrorism has been responsible for a significant number of attacks and plots in the United States, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s ^[3]. However, the brief notes that right-wing extremism has significantly outpaced left-wing extremism in terms of the number of attacks and plots in the United States ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key missing context in the original statement is the definition of left-wing extremism and how it differs from right-wing extremism ^[2]. The CSIS brief defines left-wing terrorism as the use or threat of violence by sub-national or non-state entities that oppose capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism ^[3]. Another missing context is the role of Antifa in left-wing extremism, with some sources portraying them as a decentralized network of far-left militants that oppose fascist, racist, or right-wing extremists ^[2], while others highlight the threat of organized left-wing violence from groups such as Antifa ^[4]. The Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability hearing notes that left-wing violence has been responsible for significant property damage and violence against law enforcement officers, and that the federal government needs to do more to address this threat ^[4]. Additionally, the limitation of the FBI's approach to tracking extremist groups due to the First Amendment is a crucial context that is often overlooked ^[1]. The FBI's focus on individual offenders rather than groups can make it challenging to track and prevent extremist activities ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be biased towards a particular ideology by focusing solely on left-wing extremist groups without acknowledging the threat posed by right-wing extremism ^[3]. The CSIS brief notes that right-wing extremism has significantly outpaced left-wing extremism in terms of the number of attacks and plots in the United States ^[3]. This bias may be influenced by political agendas, such as President Trump's downplaying of the threat of right-wing extremism and instead blaming the left for political violence ^[5]. The statement may also lack context about the FBI's approach to tracking extremist groups, which is limited by the First Amendment and requires the agency to focus on individual offenders rather than groups ^[1]. Furthermore, the statement may overlook the complexity of left-wing extremism, which encompasses a wide range of ideologies and groups, including those that oppose capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism ^[2]. The statement may benefit those who seek to downplay the threat of right-wing extremism and instead focus on the threat posed by left-wing extremist groups ^[4].