http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/03/bloggers-beware-us-government-sock-p uppets-are-here/
Bloggers Beware: US Government Sock Puppets Are Here <http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/03/bloggers-beware-us-government-sock- puppets-are-here/> <http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/03/bloggers-beware-us-government-sock- puppets-are-here/socialnetworks/> According to the multiple media sources <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367535/U-S-military-using-fake-onl ine-profiles-spread-propaganda.html> , the United States Central Command (Centcom) has awarded a $2.7 million contract to a software company to design and develop a software package to help them implement an "online persona management service". This "service" will allow a single user to control up to 10 different false personas, otherwise known as "sock puppets." However, the service is a lot more complex than just making a series of new screen names. The contract stated that this software will actually create puppets that have "background, history, supporting details, and cyber presences that are technically, culturally and geographically consistent." The contract goes into further detail by stating that the puppets will "appear to originate in nearly any part of the world" and will have the ability to utilize "conventional online services and social media platforms." This contract will be implemented under Operation Earnest Voice, a strategy that was conceived as a response to online al-Qaeda supporters; in short, a vehicle to circulate pro-American propaganda in foreign countries. It should come as no surprise that the U.S., or any other country, would use social media to spread propaganda. This is simply a new version of an old trick. During the Cold War, the U.S. used Hollywood and television to spread anti-Communism propaganda. The major difference is that during the 1950's, the U.S. was targeting their own citizens; whereas today, the goal appears to be to "counter violent extremist and enemy propaganda outside the US." With that said, one does wonder whether or not domestic agencies like the FBI will borrow a page from the Air Force playbook? Additionally, many critics of the contract say that Centcom cannot be trusted to keep their word about not using the service against Americans. Also, they go on to explain that this new service will do more harm than good. Citing that any new true pro-American opinions that surface in foreign countries will just be dismissed as American propaganda from these Pentagon sock puppets. <http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/03/bloggers-beware-us-government-sock- puppets-are-here/> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
