Amnesty International denounces Macri administration for cyberattacks against opponents

[sandensea]

A report released today by Amnesty International concluded that journalists and human rights advocates critical of the right-wing Mauricio Macri administration have been the target of coordinated cyberattacks by government-sponsored trolls.

The conclusions are based on a survey of Twitter activity in Argentina between October 22 and November 14, at the height of political controversies ranging from mid-term election results, to Macri's labor law deregulation and pension cutback proposals, to the contentious autopsy results of slain artist and activist Santiago Maldonado.

"The modus operandi of cyber attacks against journalists and human rights advocates reveals coordination between government officials and figures authorized by said officials to act as enablers," the report stated.

"In the first stages the future attack is framed. Government officials are not initially exposed - with exceptions - but trolls and bots are deployed that combine content generated by genuine users, with retweeting and Faveo activities aimed at magnifying the attack though automated and semi-automated means."

Fake news, the report noted, is used most at the peak of the attacks.

Among the journalists most targeted or this work were María O'Donnell, Edi Zunino, and Reynaldo Sietecase - as well as Hugo Alconada Mon, who though a senior writer at the typically pro-government La Nación, has been critical of the Macri administration over its numerous corruption and tax evasion scandals.

Others targeted include the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, and Amnesty International's own director, Mariela Belski, who was the target of a fake news campaign after inviting Sergio Maldonado, Santiago's brother, to give a lecture at Amnesty's Buenos Aires offices.

"Attacks on criticism," Belski noted, "threaten the free flow of information, ideas and opinions, and violates freedom of expression."

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pagina12.com.ar%2F102613-ciberataques-a-los-que-critican-a-cambiemos&edit-text=

Mariela Belski, executive director of Amnesty International's Argentina office

[Judi Lynn]

1. Looks as if Macri has been outpacing, or at least matching step-for-step the US fascists.

It's a shock to realize how far the country has fallen after Néstor Kirchner.

The fascists were completely set and ready to go the moment Kirchner had his heart attack.

After that, they launched their homicidal attacks every day upon the new President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Relentless, vicious people.
During that time, Macri was consolididating his power in Buenos Aires, getting his army of orcs organized.

Every time I hear of a new high point in treachery, it seems he can't (like Trump) get any more evil than that.

This is huge information, isn't it, sandensea?

Looks as if there is far more coordination behind the scenes than people would have guessed. Bet they all get their leadership from the same mega-idiot-demons.

Wow, just wow.

Thank you, so much.

[sandensea]

2. You're welcome, Judi. It is huge news - or should be.

But in all likelihood it just won't be, simply because Macri controls most (though not all) the judiciary.

Not unlike (among other cases Argentine courts refuse to touch):
·the Panama and Paradise Papers,
·the Macris' quarter-billion dollar Postal Service debt,
·the Calcaterra/Caputo contracts,
·the dollar futures self-dealing (cashing in on the devaluation while in office),
·the tax amnesty decree favoring family/friends,
·the Arribas/Odebrecht bribery scandal,
·the Avianca/Flybondi airline permits,
·and of course the 4G network giveaway (value: $500 million+) and other sweetheart deals with Clarín.

And now, there's news that Macri's 2015 campaign probably hired Cambridge Analytica to influence the election for them. You'll recall that he won by just 2.7% - so if true, if's entirelyplausible that they swung the election (there was a lot of social media trolling at the time).

I'll try to post something if I find something more specific. Thanks again!

[Judi Lynn]

3. That's an amazing list of accomplishments, isn't it?

Any one of them is an actual crime for which he should already be in prison, but the law, done his way, has permitted him to become the President, anyway. One has to wonder if schools shouldn't start reflecting the other set of rules in plays for those who dare to see themselves as beyond the reach of the original set of rules!

With organizations like Cambridge Analytica within reach, he undoubtedly can expect to bag a second term, just as his fellow grifter, Donald Trump claims, well in advance.

Isn't it sad he isn't continually led to live constantly looking over his shoulder, afraid his history will suddenly catch up with him?