U.S. military infiltrates social media

[Uncle Joe]

(The Underreported Story)

http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93591636_u-s-military-infiltrates-social-media.htm

"Just when you thought it was safe to post that scurrilous update to your favorite social network. Earlier this year, The Guardian reported that the U.S military awarded a $2.76 million contract to Ntrepid, a California corporation, to develop software that will create fake personas (sock puppets) to try to influence dialogue among online denizens while propagating American propaganda (though after the Guardian’s article published, military officials told them these fake personas will not be on Twitter or Facebook).

The program has been described as an “online persona management service,” where a military official can operate up to 10 different identities from all around the globe, infiltrating all sorts of social networks.

(snip)

Critics of this project, the Guardian points out, say that this project is like:

"China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet. Critics are likely to complain that it will allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations, crowd out unwelcome opinions and smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives."

Does anyone else believe this program will be used to sway political debate here in the U.S.?

[arcane1]

1. Not only do I think it will be used...

I think it already is.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Thanks for the reply, arcane.

I have to cut out for the evening, but will be back tomorrow, thanks in advance to anyone that posts.

[TBF]

11. Yes -

and I think they are not just on social networks. They can also be found on message boards.

[Scuba]

12. No doubt. I know a couple of DU'ers who are strong possibles. n/t

[lovuian]

17. yep

it means that they will try to attempt to manage forums

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Sock puppets pushing pro US military propaganda?

Very interesting. Very interesting indeed......

[lpbk2713]

3. Waging psychological warfare on their own citizenry.

Using our own tax $$$ against us for psyops.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Wouldn't that be the ultimate irony?

Hard earned tax dollars collected from the American People used to create government sponsored fictitious people; turning the First Amendment on its' head to brainwash the real people.

It makes your head spin at the mental hoops someone would have to jump through to justify such a fraud.

The one thing that this program screams on the mountaintop is that the perpetrators simply don't believe in their own argument.

[zeljko67]

5. I guess Obama must be OK with this too..wtf NT

[JDPriestly]

6. That would explain some of the knee-jerk posts on DU.

So I am arguing with military agents. Explains a lot.

Just joking, but, you never know.

[abq e streeter]

7. My question is, does anyone believe it WON'T be used for that ?

[gratuitous]

8. Oh, you're all just being paranoid

And besides, none of this would ever be used against innocent citizens of the United States. The only people who would have anything to worry about are terrorists and other very, very bad people. So quit posting stuff that says otherwise on Facebook, Uncle Joe.

I mean . . . oops.

[malaise]

9. K & R - this is important

Happy Holidays Uncle Joe

[Uncle Joe]

16. Happy Holidays to you as well, malaise.

[Solly Mack]

10. k/r

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks

[msongs]

13. Bush 3 marches onward nt

[firehorse]

14. I had the feeling this has already been going on - for years.