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As supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on January 6th, battling police and forcing lawmakers into hiding, an insurrection of a different kind was taking place inside the world’s largest social media company.

Thousands of miles away, in California, Facebook engineers were racing to tweak internal controls to slow the spread of misinformation and inciteful content.

Emergency actions — some of which were rolled back after the 2020 election — included banning Trump, freezing comments in groups with a record for hate speech, filtering out the “Stop the Steal” rallying cry and empowering content moderators to act more assertively by labeling the US a “Temporary High Risk Location" for political violence.

READ MORE: Slain reporter's father wants Facebook punished over violent video

At the same time, frustration inside Facebook erupted over what some saw as the company's halting and inconsistent response to rising extremism in the U.S.

“Haven’t we had enough time to figure out how to manage discourse without enabling violence?” one employee wrote on an internal message board at the height of the January 6 turmoil.

“We’ve been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn’t be surprised it’s now out of control.”

It’s a question that still hangs over the company today, as Congress and regulators investigate Facebook’s part in the Jan. 6 riots.

New internal documents provided by former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen provide a rare glimpse into how the company appears to have simply stumbled into the January 6 riot.

READ MORE: Another Facebook whistleblower says she is willing to testify before Congress

It quickly became clear that even after years under the microscope for insufficiently policing its platform, the social network had missed how riot participants spent weeks vowing — on Facebook itself — to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s election victory.

The documents also appear to bolster Haugen’s claim that Facebook put its growth and profits ahead of public safety, opening the clearest window yet into how Facebook’s conflicting impulses — to safeguard its business and protect democracy — clashed in the days and weeks leading up to the attempted Jan. 6 coup.

This story is based in part on disclosures Haugen made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugen’s legal counsel.

The redacted versions received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organisations, including The Associated Press.

What Facebook called “Break the Glass” emergency measures put in place on January 6 were essentially a toolkit of options designed to stem the spread of dangerous or violent content that the social network had first used in the run-up to the bitter 2020 election.

As many as 22 of those measures were rolled back at some point after the election, according to an internal spreadsheet analysing the company's response.

“As soon as the election was over, they turned them back off or they changed the settings back to what they were before, to prioritise growth over safety,” Haugen said in an interview with “60 Minutes.”

An internal Facebook report following January 6, previously reported by BuzzFeed, faulted the company for having a “piecemeal” approach to the rapid growth of “Stop the Steal” pages, related misinformation sources, and violent and inciteful comments.

Facebook says the situation is more nuanced and that it carefully calibrates its controls to react quickly to spikes in hateful and violent content, as it did on January 6.

The company said it’s not responsible for the actions of the rioters and that having stricter controls in place prior to that day wouldn’t have helped.

Facebook’s decisions to phase certain safety measures in or out took into account signals from the Facebook platform as well as information from law enforcement, said spokeswoman Dani Lever. “When those signals changed, so did the measures.”

Lever said some of the measures stayed in place well into February and others remain active today.

Some employees were unhappy with Facebook's managing of problematic content even before the January 6 riots.

One employee who departed the company in 2020 left a long note charging that promising new tools, backed by strong research, were being constrained by Facebook for “fears of public and policy stakeholder responses” (translation: concerns about negative reactions from Trump allies and investors).

“Similarly (though even more concerning), I’ve seen already built & functioning safeguards being rolled back for the same reasons,” wrote the employee, whose name is blacked out.

Research conducted by Facebook well before the 2020 campaign left little doubt that its algorithm could pose a serious danger of spreading misinformation and potentially radicalizing users.

One 2019 study, entitled “Carol’s Journey to QAnon—A Test User Study of Misinfo & Polarization Risks Encountered through Recommendation Systems,” described results of an experiment conducted with a test account established to reflect the views of a prototypical “strong conservative” — but not extremist — 41-year North Carolina woman.

This test account, using the fake name Carol Smith, indicated a preference for mainstream news sources like Fox News, followed humour groups that mocked liberals, embraced Christianity and was a fan of Melania Trump.

Within a single day, page recommendations for this account generated by Facebook itself had evolved to a "quite troubling, polarising state,” the study found.

By day 2, the algorithm was recommending more extremist content, including a QAnon-linked group, which the fake user didn’t join because she wasn't innately drawn to conspiracy theories.

A week later the test subject's feed featured “a barrage of extreme, conspiratorial and graphic content,” including posts reviving the false Obama birther lie and linking the Clintons to the murder of a former Arkansas state senator.

Much of the content was pushed by dubious groups run from abroad or by administrators with a track record for violating Facebook’s rules on bot activity.

Those results led the researcher, whose name was redacted by the whistleblower, to recommend safety measures running from removing content with known conspiracy references and disabling “top contributor” badges for misinformation commenters to lowering the threshold number of followers required before Facebook verifies a page administrator’s identity.

Among the other Facebook employees who read the research the response was almost universally supportive.

“Hey! This is such a thorough and well-outlined (and disturbing) study,” one user wrote, their name blacked out by the whistleblower. “Do you know of any concrete changes that came out of this?”

Facebook said the study was an one of many examples of its commitment to continually studying and improving its platform.

Another study turned over to congressional investigators, titled “Understanding the Dangers of Harmful Topic Communities,” discussed how like-minded individuals embracing a borderline topic or identity can form “echo chambers” for misinformation that normalises harmful attitudes, spurs radicalisation and can even provide a justification for violence.

Examples of such harmful communities include QAnon and, hate groups promoting theories of a race war.

“The risk of offline violence or harm becomes more likely when like-minded individuals come together and support one another to act,” the study concludes.

Charging documents filed by federal prosecutors against those alleged to have stormed the Capitol have examples of such like-minded people coming together.

Prosecutors say a reputed leader in the Oath Keepers militia group used Facebook to discuss forming an “alliance” and coordinating plans with another extremist group, the Proud Boys, ahead of the riot at the Capitol.

“We have decided to work together and shut this s—t down,” Kelly Meggs, described by authorities as the leader of the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers, wrote on Facebook, according to court records.

An assistant director handed Alec Baldwin a prop firearm and yelled "cold gun" before the actor fired the weapon, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, according to a court document.

The "cold gun" remark was meant to indicate that the weapon did not have live rounds, according to an affidavit for a search warrant for the movie set filed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and obtained by CNN affiliate KOAT.

According to the affidavit, Baldwin was handed one of three prop guns by assistant director David Halls that were set up in a cart by an armorer for the movie "Rust."

READ MORE: Alec Baldwin didn't know weapon contained live round

Halls did not know there were live rounds in the gun, the affidavit said.

But when the actor fired the gun, a live round hit Hutchins, 42, in the chest and wounded Souza, 48, who was nearby, according to the affidavit.

Hutchins was pronounced dead at the hospital after being airlifted, the affidavit says.

Before Thursday's shooting, some crew members quit the production over concerns related to safety – including gun inspections and COVID-19 protocols not being followed, according to the Los Angeles Times and other media reports.

Three crew members who were on the set last weekend told the Times there were two accidental prop gun discharges before Thursday.

READ MORE: Alec Baldwin expresses grief over shooting as 911 call released

The rounds were accidentally fired October 16 by Baldwin's stunt double after he was told the gun was "cold," two of the crew members, who witnessed the discharges, told the newspaper.

The film's production company told Deadline in a statement that it was not notified of official complaints regarding weapon or prop safety on set.

"We will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down," Rust Movie Productions, LLC said in a statement.

"The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company."

CNN has made multiple attempts to reach Rust Movie Productions for comment but has not received a response.

Armorer voiced doubt about experience level

Hannah Gutierrez, the armorer for the movie, had recently finished work on her first project as head armorer, she said in a September podcast interview.

Gutierrez was identified as the armorer who "set-up" the prop gun used by Baldwin, according to a search warrant issued by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office Friday.

"I was really nervous about it at first," Gutierrez said of working as head armorer on the set of the movie "The Old Way," starring Nicolas Cage.

"I almost didn't take the job because I wasn't sure if I was ready, but doing it, like it went really smoothly," she said in an interview on the Voices of the West podcast, which is dedicated to the Old West.

"It's really cool… really badass way to start off a really long and cool career, I'm hoping," Gutierrez added.

https://twitter.com/AlecBaldwin/status/1451572461787439106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/AlecBaldwin/status/1451573351588106246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Gutierrez said her father, Thell Reed – a gunsmith, stuntman and armorer – started passing on his knowledge of guns when she was 16 years old.

Though she studied filmmaking and aspired to act, she said, the transition to armorer seemed natural.

"I tried it with dad one time and then I noticed I had a really natural knack for it – growing up around guns my whole life," Gutierrez said.

Her work as armorer ranges from teaching actors how to wear a gun belt to aiming and shooting, she said.

"I have to like just show them how to hold it straight, make it look like they're aiming at something and also you have to teach them about the recoil," said Gutierrez.

She added, "These blanks don't really have regular like push back that regular bullets do. In order to make it look more realistic [I] tell the actors to create a little bit of recoil with their wrist."

'Make sure that the weapon is truly cold'

"Cold guns" aren't supposed to be loaded, particularly during rehearsals, a weapons expert told CNN on Friday.

"You have to make sure that the weapon is truly cold, which means there should have been no rounds in there, period. And especially if it's a rehearsal," Bryan Carpenter, an armorer and weapons master in the film industry, told CNN.

Carpenter added that while it's acceptable for some actors to want to get a feel of a weapon during rehearsals, it's crucial to ensure the prop guns are not filled with any rounds.

He noted that weapons on sets should be confirmed "cold" by two people to avoid such tragic incidents.

Despite safety measures, fatal production accidents have happened.

While filming the movie "The Crow" in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, was killed in a prop gun shooting accident.

Even blank ammunition can be deadly if fired at close range. In 1984, actor John-Eric Hexum was playing around with a gun on the set of "Cover Up: Golden Opportunity" and died after putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.Prop master Joseph Fisher told CNN on Friday that even when there is no "bullet" in a prop gun, there are still projectiles, including gun powder and gas which can be dangerous within a certain range.

Multiple agencies are investigating how this shooting happened

"Rust," which was being shot at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, was starring Baldwin, who is also a producer of the film.

A 911 call obtained by KOAT offered a glimpse into the minutes following the shooting.

A crew member told the operator that two people had been "accidentally" shot on set.

"We need some help a director and a camera woman have been shot," a woman told the operator.

"I was sitting, we were rehearsing and it went off, and I ran out, we all ran out."

Baldwin on Friday said he's in contact with Hutchins' family.

There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours," Baldwin tweeted.

"I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna."

According to the affidavit, all firearms and ammunition, cameras and computer equipment and the clothes worn by the actors at the time of the shooting were to be seized.

Baldwin's western-style clothes appeared to be stained with blood, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office affidavit.

The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau is also investigating.

"The production company reported the fatality and injury to OHSB last night, in accordance with workplace safety laws. OHSB is investigating the incident in coordination with law enforcement, the employer, and employees," the agency said in a statement.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office also secured the shooting scene, spokesman Juan Ríos said.

Police have closed a section of Auckland’s Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd, and diversions are in place following an incident.Police said in a statement on Saturday night it was responding to an incident on Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd in Kawakawa…

Forensic police have shifted their attention towards the family home of missing Western Australian girl Cleo Smith at Carnarvon as the desperate search continues.

Officers have been at the home for hours as they canvass for fingerprints.

Police say the focus is not on the family, rather they are looking at the possibility of someone stalking Cleo in the days before she vanished. It is usual practice to examine all possible avenues in cases like this.

READ MORE: Land search scaled back for missing WA girl Cleo Smith

https://twitter.com/MiaEgerton/status/1451745507626283019

It has been eight days since the four-year-old vanished from the Blowholes Campground.

The land search for the missing four-year-old was scaled back yesterday after almost a week.

Detectives are now casting their net wide, appealing for dashcam and security footage within a 1000-kilometre radius of the Blowholes campsite.

Police are specifically looking for video taken between 6pm last Friday and 6pm on Sunday, with a particular interest in motels, service stations, children's clothing stores, pharmacies and camping stores.

They are now focused on searching for a possible kidnapper.

READ MORE: Morcombe family's advice for the parents of missing WA girl Cleo Smith

Police have contacted countless businesses for CCTV and a WA Police community announcement is dominating radio airwaves.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde spoke with Today yesterday after the WA government announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo's recovery.

"We have been searching that area now for almost a week, and unfortunately that hasn't led us anywhere, so we haven't found Cleo in an extensive search," Superintendent Wilde said.

"So that, gathered with some of the evidence that we have gained from the tent and the surrounds there, has led us to believe that possibly someone else was involved in her disappearance."

READ MORE: Notebook found near Laundrie's remains could answer key questions

Criminologist Associate Professor Xanthe Mallett told Today the reward "only the fourth time in WA history that we've seen a reward of $1 million offered in either a disappearance or a murder case".

"Don't underestimate the importance of this reward," Ms Mallett said."Normally these are offered a significant amount of time later, so maybe years or decades after an offence.

"The fact that this has been offered simply days after Cleo disappeared is really a sign of how serious the police are in getting as much information as early as possible."

The community is also pitching in to help find the missing four-year-old with a Facebook group called 'Bring Cleo Home' amassing more than 52,000 members.

Superintendent Wilde said a lot of information had been coming from the public, but urged people to continue coming forward and contacting Crime Stoppers.

"We are hopeful that will lead us to discovering where she is," he said.

He said the $1 million reward was a "big prompt" for anybody who had concrete information.

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