Nearly 600 Russian troll accounts tweeted about ObamaCare: report

[riversedge]

Source: the hill




By Nathaniel Weixel - 09/12/18 01:29 PM EDT


Nearly 600 Russian-linked troll accounts posted conservative, anti-ObamaCare messages to Twitter from 2014 through this past May, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to research from Clemson University, the Internet Research Agency (IRA) tweeted nearly 10,000 messages about health policy and ObamaCare.

Eighty percent of those tweets had conservative-leaning political messages, often disparaging the health-care law, a Journal analysis found.

The IRA is a “troll farm” based in St. Petersburg that seeks to sow division among the electorate. The company was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller in February over its alleged attempts to meddle in the 2016 election.

Health care is playing a major role in the mid-term elections, and experts said the tweets are an example of how Russia is continuing to use social media to its advantage in a campaign for influence over U.S. elections.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/406309-nearly-600-russian-troll-accounts-tweeted-about-obamacare-report

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Link to tweet

[Historic NY]

1. Why can't Twitter stop it if they know where its coming from...

China can shut down what they don't want. Plus thy know exactly where it coming from.

[Amimnoch]

2. The other side of the double edged sword of free speech.

If we give our government the power to decide what they can and can’t shutdown, it opens the door to abuse.. imagine if this orange shitgibbon we have right now had that ability at his disposal!

No, the best weapon we can have on this is getting our education system boosted.. empowering our children with critical thinking skills to sniff out the bullshit, seek out fact and truth, and view the information they read with a critical eye.

Of all the courses I took during my University years, the two courses on critical thinking were by and far the most impactful courses. Should be part of mandatory grade school curriculum imo.

[Hekate]

7. This is part of the fundamental misunderstanding of the limitations of "free speech"...

Like all the other rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights, it is not without limit. Libel and slander are not protected. Yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater where there is no fire is not protected. Conspiracy to commit murder is not protected.

Engaging in activities that amount to an act of war against the US most assuredly should not be protected.

Twitter -- like DU -- is a business owned by people who set the rules for people who want to interact with that business. Neither of these businesses is "the government," and they enjoy a lot of latitude. However, Twitter knows how to do what it needs to rein in its users when they seek to sabotage our open society -- and if they won't, I believe the federal government needs to step in.

[Amimnoch]

9. The comparison made, that I responded to, was China.

Thinking that Twitter should be a good custodian of what is or isn’t acceptable dialog is fine.

Suggesting in any way that our government be empowered with the media control of China, not so much.

Also, since you bring up fundamental misunderstandings, the example of “yelling fire in a crowded theater” is, quite ironically, one of those misunderstandings.

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/its-time-to-stop-using-the-fire-in-a-crowded-theater-quote/264449/

[FSogol]

8. Is Twitter now our government?

[Amimnoch]

10. No. but the comparison made to "China" is. Nt.

[Historic NY]

12. It was meant to be an example showing it can be done....

[elmac]

3. when cyber warfare causes the deaths of thousands of Americans

sanctions just ain't enough. The GOP mobster organization must face criminal charges at the very least but they deserve much worse.

[Kilgore]

4. This is why

I don't do Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Myspace (not sure it still exists)

No good can come of it.

[George II]

5. I'm sure it was more than 600 and more than just twitter.

[chowder66]

6. I can't understand why the people who are tweeting from Russia can do that to fellow humans.

Makes me wonder about what kind of people they are. I guess they have to get paid to have a conscience.

[YOHABLO]

11. This is how Russia plans to take the U.S. down. Divide and Conquer ..oldest trick in the book.

But the Right Wing thinks they can use them to stay in power. Maybe so, but not for very long. What fools they are.

[Midnight Writer]

14. This is how Russia plans to take the U.S. down. Promote Republican policies....surefire destruction.

[BigmanPigman]

13. The ACA repeal is also a possibility if Kavanaugh

Last edited Thu Sep 13, 2018, 01:09 AM - Edit history (1)

is on the SCOTUS! Another reason to call senators NOW and not wait for the midterms. Please call and join the efforts of the Dems on the Judiciary Comm and other Dems who care enough to take 5 min to call. This ass could be on the court for decades. THIS FIGHT IS WORTH IT!

Here is contact info provided by some DUers for the 8 senators local and DC offices. PLEASE CALL!
Scroll down to the replies for the info. THANKS!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1011&pid=2543
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11102387