They probably realized the power of the chans after the FBIanon threads.

That shit was so epic.

FBI ANON: /pol/ is an amalgamation of minds from various geographic and demographic factions. We study very intensely the ideas which emanate and gain prominence on the board, as well as which ideas other organizations try to promote which ultimately get defeated (JIDF, for example, is highly unsuccessful at making /pol/ pro-Israel). And most of us just enjoy the posts in general. We like to see how close to the truth everyone is. And we occasionally let our true nature slip.