The tactics of a Russian troll farm

BBC ^ | 02/17/2018 | Dave Lee

[Kid Shelleen]

It was 2014, and in a building in St Petersburg, the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA) was already hard at work building its arsenal to take on US politics.

According to US prosecutors, the IRA had gathered stolen identities of real Americans, and a formidable encyclopaedia of what "works" on social media when it comes to riling up Americans talking about politics. Two members of the agency were said to have travelled to the US to gather more intelligence, ---snip--- In the process, the IRA is said to have built up a list of more than 100 real Americans who it had contacted for help in organising these real-world efforts - none of them aware they were puppets in a most audacious Russian campaign

[Kid Shelleen]

We are finally getting some information on what the Russians might have actually done. My take away is that the Russians were trying to contact and groom future spies and corruptible Americans.
It also says the US businesses paid the trolls $25 to $200 per post. Maybe they just wanted to be the next Media Matters or just good old fashioned commie agitators.
Their biggest accomplishment by far was hijacking the useful dupes in the MSM.

[vooch]

If this is a crime, then my 83 year old Mom should be indicted by the FBI. She is a heavy influencer on politics. Always going on about Pelosi

[Bon mots]

The 'Federal Bureau of Matters' hot on the trail...

[txrefugee]

This may just be a Leftist “special ops” to destroy conservative media outlets. They will plant the idea that Rush, Hannity,et al are “unwittingly” being used by the Russians to “sow discord.” It’s the revenge of the Democrat media for the huge effect conservative talk shows have in countering the Oppressive Government Left.

[AndyJackson]

Well, this look-squirrel, business is only fooling the FBI. We are on it. It’s not kabukin anymore. It is a sidewalk charlatan trying to charge kiddies for a puppet show and no one is showing up any more.

[Rapscallion]

Do not overlook Putin's evil hand in this. Rumor was he wants to revive the Stalin years and go back to a Cold War. NOW I AM CERTAIN.

US Military should be at DEFCON 3 already.

[AndyJackson]

It also says the US businesses paid the trolls $25 to $200 per post.

Boy, here at FR we have some of the best trolls around. How can we get a piece of that. $200 a post. Lawdie, I'se rich.

[Bon mots]

No mention of the real scandals.

[Bryanw92]

I think the FBIs main source in this investigation is a year-long documentary in 2016 called “South Park”.

[polymuser]

Good lord. Let’s indict all pubic school teachers for creating a couple generations of ignorant and gullible trollees.

That’s the REAL unAmerican problem in our politics.

[Bon mots]

[iontheball]

It sounds normal internet trolling to me. They were doing nothing more than what the Obozo and Hitlery bots were up to. Is there really a meaningful difference if it came from domestic or foreign communists? Furthermore, I wonder how pervasive our Intelligence/State Depart. trolling is overseas. I am certain it was wide spread during the Obama years and done with the intent to influence local elections - Brexit, Egypt, Israel, etc, The case looks like a hypocrite’s nightmare to me.

[DUMBGRUNT]

A relative worked deep in the W. Bush campaign, not long after the ‘hanging chads event’, I mentioned Freerepublic; WHOA!

I was very surprised how much they knew about FR!
Circa 2000, FR had a much smaller footprint.

They explained the many volunteers writing letters to editors and much more ...

I doubt that they were the only one working the wires?
Guessing, that the growth between elections would be exponential.

And you know, there are many here at FR from both sides.

[BenLurkin]

“Hillary Clinton doesn’t deserve the black vote!”

No Democrat does.

[vooch]

Defcon 30 at least, !!!!

the russians are so scary !!!!!!!!!!

[sheana]

Wouldn’t have to be a commie if that kind of money was paid. Heck, I’d post all day for $100 per post. $200 and I’d go all night too.

[dila813]

Nice

[WilliamIII]

Yes, Russian Facebook ads and Twitter accounts definitely call for a nuclear response by the US. If we find out they were also using Instagram, we should go hydrogen

[Drew68]

If this is a crime, then my 83 year old Mom should be indicted by the FBI. She is a heavy influencer on politics. Always going on about Pelosi

I read the entire article. I have no idea what actual crime was committed here.

This was nothing more than trolling; sovereign Russian citizens setting up social media accounts with American names and posting mean stuff about Hillary and Black Lives Matter. No different than if I were to make a fake VKontakte account from my home in Jacksonville under the name "Mikhail Aleksadrovich" and post mean words about Putin. The thought that I'd be indicted by the Russians for this activity wold be absolutely ridiculous. I'd laugh my ass off.

This is a farce.

[a fool in paradise]

A decade late getting to the issue of internet trolling for political purposes.

Musician Moby told Democrats to do it on Republican forums in 2004 to tank his candidacy.

Rush Limbaugh’s sponsors have been bombarded with boycott efforts run by a dozen leftists with thousands of twitterbots.

And Big Hollywood celebs use twitterbot bollowers to promote their films and music.