By the time social media companies took action against users and groups spurring on the siege of Capitol Hill this week, culminating in the suspension of U.S. President Donald Trump's accounts, it was too little too late.
For weeks, content on big tech platforms Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube as well as upstart fringe social networks foretold the storming of the U.S Capitol on Wednesday that led to five deaths.
In one Facebook post identified by online advocacy group Avaaz, an illustration of Trump holding a machine gun in front of the White House is accompanied by the words "Come and Take it." Another depicted Trump as Uncle Sam with text paraphrasing the president: "I want you in Washington DC January 6. It's going to be WILD."