Economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman claimed his IP address was compromised and was used to download child pornography.
“Well, I’m on the phone with my computer security service, and as I understand it someone compromised my IP address and is using it to download child pornography,” he tweeted Wednesday. “I might just be a random target. But this could be an attempt to Qanon me. It’s an ugly world out there.” Krugman followed up his tweet a couple hours later stating, “The Times is now on the case.”
The Nobel Prize-winning economist did not provide further details about the attack or why he thought QAnon was responsible. Krugman has been a staunch critic of President Trump and accused the media of being too “pro-Trump.”
QAnon is a complex conspiracy theory that spawned from the internet and alleges there is a “deep state” plot against the president. The believers of the conspiracy theory are largely a subsection of Trump supporters.
Last month, a Colorado mother was charged with the attempted kidnapping of her own daughter after she got involved with a member of a QAnon group. She claimed that “pedophiles” and “Satan worshipers” had taken her child.
UPDATE:
Krugman said he deleted his original tweet and believes he was potentially scammed. “Anyway, will have more security in future,” he added.
Deleted original tweet. Times thinks it may have been a scam. Anyway, will have more security in future
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 9, 2020
