Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Really it's only for overseas and will never be used for politics.
guardian.co.uk, ^ | Thursday 17 March 2011 13.19 GMT | Nick Fielding and Ian Cobain

Posted on 03/17/2011 7:40:37 AM PDT by plainolamerican

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Military/Veterans; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; ilovebigbrother; militaryspying
The US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media using fake online personas designed to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.

A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with the US Central Command (Centcom) to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities at once.

The contract stipulates each persona must have a convincing background, history and supporting details, and that up to 50 controllers must be able to operate false identities from their workstations "without fear of being discovered by sophisticated adversaries".

The project has been likened by web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet.

1 posted on 03/17/2011 7:40:40 AM PDT by plainolamerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

They are going to need more controllers than that from the anti-American comments I see on Facebook!


2 posted on 03/17/2011 7:43:41 AM PDT by TSgt (Colonel Allen West & Michele Bachman - 2012 POTUS Dream Team Ticket!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

And our government never, ever lies to us and always keeps its promises.

/sarc


3 posted on 03/17/2011 7:44:33 AM PDT by ConjunctionJunction
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

Rush was all over this about three weeks ago— but he said it was the Dept. of Commerce letting contracts.


4 posted on 03/17/2011 7:46:22 AM PDT by Lysandru
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

I’m going to start a Facebook page and tell everyone to like me. Yeah, that’ll work, the whole world will love me.


5 posted on 03/17/2011 7:48:58 AM PDT by tiki
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican
The project has been likened by hysterical nutroot web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet.

Utterly ridiculous. The leftist obviously think 'social media' is their own private PR playground.

6 posted on 03/17/2011 7:49:13 AM PDT by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican
The US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media using fake online personas designed to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.

Pro-American is considered propaganda....

According to liberals, this must not be allowed.

7 posted on 03/17/2011 7:53:23 AM PDT by dragonblustar (Just saying.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

We might think about spreading pro-American propaganda in America at online forums. I can think of a couple of sites.


8 posted on 03/17/2011 7:54:21 AM PDT by listenhillary (Social Justice is the epitome of injustice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican
Just because they have this program doesn't mean it actually works.

I don't believe people are that easily manipulated.

9 posted on 03/17/2011 7:55:00 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." -- Barry Soetoro, June 11, 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

But if you are right about people not being easily manipulated, how can you explain the Kardashian sisters’ income of $65M last year?


10 posted on 03/17/2011 8:00:09 AM PDT by Pecos (Liberty and Honor will not die on my watch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Lysandru

Seeking bids to do it I think. No details on whether the program ever got off the ground.


11 posted on 03/17/2011 8:04:20 AM PDT by listenhillary (Social Justice is the epitome of injustice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: plainolamerican

An alternate MO is to manipulate American’s responses to pre-election media content. If it takes a billion dollars to win the presidency, there’s no reason to think this kind of stuff is off the table.


12 posted on 03/17/2011 8:19:32 AM PDT by Track9 (Make War!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson