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99th_Monkey

(19,326 posts)
Tue Jun 23, 2015, 04:35 PM Jun 2015

Is DU immune from these nefarious influences?

Judging from some posts, I think not. But I may just be paranoid

Spy Agency's Secret Plans to Foster Online "Conformity" and "Obedience" Exposed
Internal memo from secretive British spy unit exposes how GCHQ and NSA used human psychological research to create sophisticated online propaganda tools
byJon Queally, staff writer * Monday, June 22, 2015 * by Common Dreams

With never-before-seen documents accompanied by new reporting on Monday, The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald and Andrew Fishman are offering a more in-depth look than ever into how a secretive unit of the UK's GCHQ surveillance agency used a host of psychological methods and online subterfuge in order to manipulate the behavior of individuals and groups through the internet and other digital forms of communication.

According to the reporting, the latest documents, which were leaked to journalists by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden,

demonstrate how the Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group (JTRIG), a unit of the signals intelligence agency Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), is involved in efforts against political groups it considers “extremist,” Islamist activity in schools, the drug trade, online fraud, and financial scams.

Though its existence was secret until last year, JTRIG quickly developed a distinctive profile in the public understanding, after documents from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the unit had engaged in “dirty tricks” like deploying sexual “honey traps” designed to discredit targets, launching denial-of-service attacks to shut down internet chat rooms, pushing veiled propaganda onto social networks, and generally warping discourse online.

Among the most troubling revelations is a 42-page internal JTRIG memo that describes in detail how the elite unit developed, maintained, and apparently sought to expand its "scientific and psychological research into how human thinking and behavior can be influenced" in order to increase its ability to "manipulate public opinion" via online tools like email, social media, video, discussion forums, and other platforms.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/06/22/spy-agencys-secret-plans-foster-online-conformity-and-obedience-exposed
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Is DU immune from these nefarious influences? (Original Post) 99th_Monkey Jun 2015 OP
ALCOA! FSogol Jun 2015 #1
What is it that you would ike us to do about that? Just tell me and I'll do it. "I hear and obey." merrily Jun 2015 #2
If I knew, I'd be dangerous 99th_Monkey Jun 2015 #3
You're dangerous, anyway. merrily Jun 2015 #5
I'm totally taking that as a complement. 99th_Monkey Jun 2015 #6
It was totally meant as a compliment. You're welcome. merrily Jun 2015 #7
NFY seveneyes Jun 2015 #4
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