GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — TextSpot, a Grand Rapids-based company that helps small businesses send mass text message chains, may have helped investigators looking into a series of racist messages sent across the U.S.
The messages were sent anonymously to Black Americans on Nov. 6. The FBI and Justice Department are now investigating, and could have information on who is behind the messages thanks to TextSpot.
TextSpot founder Lance Beaudry made customers aware of this incident on his Facebook. He said that a new user had joined on Nov. 6 and attempted to send a similar mass text—but TextSpot flagged the messages and kept them from being sent.
Beaudry posted this explanation on Facebook, saying in part:
“You may have read recently that Black Americans were targeted with racist text messages.
I am proud to say that our platform did NOT allow these messages to be sent where others did.
As a company, we believe our technology should empower positive communication and build connections. We also know that words have power, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that the messages sent through our platform are inclusive and respectful.
Our AI review system caught the message before it was able to be sent. This is part of our ongoing commitment to create a safe, ethical space for all users.
We’re continually refining our platform to uphold these values and support the communities we serve.”
The texts all instructed recipients to “board a bus” that would transport them to a “plantation” to work as slaves.
While Beaudry and TextSpot were able to block those messages ahead of time, other companies were not. According to ABC News, several anonymous users on a service called TextNow created fake phone numbers to send some of the messages.
The company blocked and reported those numbers and are now cooperating with law enforcement.
The messages were reported in 24 states other than Michigan. Reports were also filed in New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee.