Tracking Russian Influence Operators

[Rommie]

So I found an interesting link a few days ago and I thought some of you guys might find it worth checking out too- http://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/

In short, it's a watchdog group that says they're trying to track Russian influence operations on Twitter. And it's kind of fascinating to watch- for example, I heard for the first time this week about the "Q Anon" insane conspiracy theory, because apparently some folks at Trump rallies were holding signs supporting it. Guess what's gotten increasingly trendy the past few days?

[SciFiFisher]

Very interesting. Apparently, Facebook has also reported a huge effort to influence the mid terms.

[SciFi Chick]

Well, Salon thinks the Walkaway movement is Russian influenced, and it most definitely is not, so I tend to take a lot of these reports with a grain of salt.

In other news, did you guys know Sen. Feinstein had a Chinese spy working for her for 20 years?

[SciFiFisher]

Well, Salon thinks the Walkaway movement is Russian influenced, and it most definitely is not, so I tend to take a lot of these reports with a grain of salt.

What the Russians seem to be doing is trying to amplify things to increase polarization and divisiveness. For example, they will target people who are likely to be receptive to the WalkAway movement message. Because if they can get enough Democrats to leave the party it weakens the Democrats at the voting booth in November.

Vox has some examples in this article https://www.vox.com/2018/7/31/17635592/ ... 8-midterms
Bob Cesca wrote on Salon that he thinks the WalkAway movement is almost entirely fueled by Russian Bots. I am not sure it's totally about bots. https://www.salon.com/2018/07/09/russia ... operation/

I can't find the article now but Facebook took down sites/pages that they reported were advancing the WalkAway movement but were essentially Russia.

I think the influence is there. I can't say it's a lot. But, I can't say it's none. The challenge is that we all want to believe we make up our own minds in a rational way. The reality is that we are all more irrational than we realize.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well, Salon thinks the Walkaway movement is Russian influenced, and it most definitely is not, so I tend to take a lot of these reports with a grain of salt.

What the Russians seem to be doing is trying to amplify things to increase polarization and divisiveness. For example, they will target people who are likely to be receptive to the WalkAway movement message. Because if they can get enough Democrats to leave the party it weakens the Democrats at the voting booth in November.

Vox has some examples in this article https://www.vox.com/2018/7/31/17635592/ ... 8-midterms
Bob Cesca wrote on Salon that he thinks the WalkAway movement is almost entirely fueled by Russian Bots. I am not sure it's totally about bots. https://www.salon.com/2018/07/09/russia ... operation/

I can't find the article now but Facebook took down sites/pages that they reported were advancing the WalkAway movement but were essentially Russia.

I think the influence is there. I can't say it's a lot. But, I can't say it's none. The challenge is that we all want to believe we make up our own minds in a rational way. The reality is that we are all more irrational than we realize.

Facebook just took down several pages managed by parties unknown that seemed to decry the US Left, no specific mention of the Walkaway movement though

....In other news, did you guys know Sen. Feinstein had a Chinese spy working for her for 20 years?

At least she didn't come out defending the guy and claiming that China was not spying on the US

[SciFi Chick]

The challenge is that we all want to believe we make up our own minds in a rational way. The reality is that we are all more irrational than we realize.

That's a nice blanket statement that fits your belief system, but I'm going to need evidence to back it up. I guess I'm just irrational that way.

[SciFi Chick]

....In other news, did you guys know Sen. Feinstein had a Chinese spy working for her for 20 years?

At least she didn't come out defending the guy and claiming that China was not spying on the US

And your point is?

[Sigma_Orionis]

....In other news, did you guys know Sen. Feinstein had a Chinese spy working for her for 20 years?

At least she didn't come out defending the guy and claiming that China was not spying on the US

And your point is?

That when this idiot was linked to an alleged Russian Spy that has been arrested, he said this

"From everything I've read since her arrest last month, it seems the Maria Butina saga is basically a sensationalized click bait story meant to smear a steady stream of Republicans and NRA members she reportedly encountered over the past few years," he said in a statement to The Post, noting that she networked extensively. Gordon provided the same statement and some details of his interactions to the Washington Times, which published his account Friday afternoon after The Washington Post contacted Gordon for comment.

[SciFi Chick]

....In other news, did you guys know Sen. Feinstein had a Chinese spy working for her for 20 years?

At least she didn't come out defending the guy and claiming that China was not spying on the US

And your point is?

That when this idiot was linked to an alleged Russian Spy that has been arrested, he said this

"From everything I've read since her arrest last month, it seems the Maria Butina saga is basically a sensationalized click bait story meant to smear a steady stream of Republicans and NRA members she reportedly encountered over the past few years," he said in a statement to The Post, noting that she networked extensively. Gordon provided the same statement and some details of his interactions to the Washington Times, which published his account Friday afternoon after The Washington Post contacted Gordon for comment.

I don't think that's a fair comparison.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well no, according to the link I got on the spy caught on Feinstein's circle, it happened five years ago, FBI investigators determined he didn't get anything of value and she fired him promptly.

But The president of the US seems to think that it's a fair comparison.

[SciFi Chick]

Well no, according to the link I got on the spy caught on Feinstein's circle, it happened five years ago, FBI investigators determined he didn't get anything of value and she fired him promptly.

But The president of the US seems to think that it's a fair comparison.

I guess you're in good company then.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Well no, according to the link I got on the spy caught on Feinstein's circle, it happened five years ago, FBI investigators determined he didn't get anything of value and she fired him promptly.

But The president of the US seems to think that it's a fair comparison.

I guess you're in good company then.

Riiiiiiight