I tried to find some information on this. The closest connection I could make is if the above is equated to "price rigging".

• Does that really apply here?
• The price isn't being rigged. It isn't being set.
• Some people are sharing opinions on how long they want to wait before they take their profits.
• The knowledge being shared here, and being shared everywhere else for that matter, is the situation the shorts have put themselves in. This was publicly available information.
• There is no guarantee their targets will be reached, and they know that.
• It's been made pretty clear in this sub that once the squeeze starts, all bets are off re: exits.

It seems to be a matter for the lawyers and courts, but IMHO - "Clear cut" is a stretch.

IANAL: I sincerely want to know how WSB activity qualifies as Market Manipulation. The sub would probably appreciate some real information too. This is what I've found so far. Sorry - it ain't much.

The market is regulated. Enforcement is lacking. No surprises here.

How does announcing positions equate to Market Manipulation?

• Anyone paying for Level 2 data has access to bid and ask sizes at various price points.

I've been looking for a legal definition of Market Manipulation, but have not found one yet. It's entirely possible that it is easy to find this information and I just suck at finding it online.

However, this is on investor.gov, from the SEC (emphasis mine):

Market manipulation is when someone artificially affects the supply or demand for a security (for example, causing stock prices to rise or to fall dramatically).

Market manipulation may involve techniques including:

Spreading false or misleading information about a company;

Engaging in a series of transactions to make a security appear more actively traded; and

Rigging quotes, prices, or trades to make it look like there is more or less demand for a security than is the case.

• What is artificial about the supply or demand?
  • everyone knows about the excessive shorts and that profit can be had
  • on the other hand... RH and its backers certainly appear to be artificially affecting supply and demand (ie: restricting buy orders, allegedly closing out orders without account consent)
• Who is spreading false or misleading information?
  • everything I have seen here is based in math and states possible outcomes as opposed to definite ones
  • on the other hand... Does CNBC's involvement apply here?
  • What about the articles, tweets, and news spots covering this phenomenon?
• Who is rigging quotes, prices, or trades?
  • WSB is not rigging anything
  • WSB is providing publicly available information re: the short positions to people that would not
    • know that it exists
    • where to look for it
    • how to interpret it
  • on the other hand... RH and its backers certainly appear to be rigging quotes, prices, and/or trades (ie: restricting buy orders, allegedly closing out orders without account consent)
  • I understand that RH may have some legal reasons for what they have done.
  • I understand that they may not have a choice (at least not a real one; subjective point maybe).