News US spy operation that manipulates social media

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The discussion centers on a U.S. military operation aimed at manipulating social media, raising concerns about the potential for creating a false consensus online and suppressing dissenting opinions. Critics argue that such tactics could be used to influence public opinion, particularly in conflict zones, and may lead to the spread of misinformation. While the military claims these operations will not target U.S. sites, the implications of psychological operations (psy-ops) on foreign platforms are significant, with the potential to sway perceptions and support for military actions.Participants express skepticism about the effectiveness of social media manipulation compared to traditional methods like leaflet drops, suggesting that while it may be useful in certain contexts, it risks backlash if discovered. The conversation also touches on the ethical implications of using technology for propaganda, with references to historical instances of misinformation campaigns and the role of influential figures in shaping these strategies. Overall, the thread highlights the complexities and moral dilemmas surrounding military engagement in digital spaces.
  • #31


so apparently, there is this guy named http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Sunstein" who works for Obama.

sock puppets as a way to mold public opinion just may be his baby, as he's proposed it before:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/01/15/sunstein
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1084585

his homepage is currently 404'd: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/regulatory_affairs/default/

from wiki, he has some particularly disturbing views on free speech. apparently, he's a little put out that his views aren't getting the attention they deserve. maybe more attention is exactly what Sunstein needs. they say sunlight is the best disinfectant, so i will do my wee part here to put him under the magnifying glass.
First Amendment

In his book Democracy and the Problem of Free Speech Sunstein says there is a need to reformulate First Amendment law. He thinks that the current formulation, based on Justice Holmes' conception of free speech as a marketplace “disserves the aspirations of those who wrote America’s founding document.”[14] The purpose of this reformulation would be to “reinvigorate processes of democratic deliberation, by ensuring greater attention to public issues and greater diversity of views.”[15] He is concerned by the present “situation in which like-minded people speak or listen mostly to one another,”[16] and thinks that in “light of astonishing economic and technological changes, we must doubt whether, as interpreted, the constitutional guarantee of free speech is adequately serving democratic goals.”[17] He proposes a “New Deal for speech [that] would draw on Justice Brandeis' insistence on the role of free speech in promoting political deliberation and citizenship.”[15]

and apparently, covert propaganda isn't even legal in the US.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/7261
 
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  • #33


WhoWee said:
Don't forget the Mrs. (Cass Sunstein) ->>> Samantha Power.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/magazine/16Sunstein-t.html

yeah, i have her http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Problem_from_Hell" . still waiting to see how she turns out. whether marginally better than the old school, or just more of the same. so far tho, our intervention policy does not seem to deviate from the american interests only routine.
 
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