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COINTELPRO Techniques for Dilution, Misdirection and Control of an Internet Forum

George Washington's picture




 

We have repeatedly addressed the topic of disruption of logical debate on the Internet.

An anonymous writer posted an important new report on disruption at Pastebin.  It is in the style of a leaked law enforcement memo, although we cannot vouch for its authenticity as a document produced by a whistleblower.  However, we have seen these techniques repeatedly used to disrupt Internet debate, and so - even if only copying the style of a real memo - it contains valuable information which all web user should know.

COINTELPRO Techniques for dilution, misdirection and control of a internet forum.

There are several techniques for the control and manipulation of a internet forum no matter what, or who is on it. We will go over each technique and demonstrate that only a minimal number of operatives can be used to eventually and effectively gain a control of a 'uncontrolled forum.'

Technique #1 - 'FORUM SLIDING'

If a very sensitive posting of a critical nature has been posted on a forum - it can be quickly removed from public view by 'forum sliding.' In this technique a number of unrelated posts are quietly prepositioned on the forum and allowed to 'age.' Each of these misdirectional forum postings can then be called upon at will to trigger a 'forum slide.' The second requirement is that several fake accounts exist, which can be called upon, to ensure that this technique is not exposed to the public. To trigger a 'forum slide' and 'flush' the critical post out of public view it is simply a matter of logging into each account both real and fake and then 'replying' to prepositined postings with a simple 1 or 2 line comment. This brings the unrelated postings to the top of the forum list, and the critical posting 'slides' down the front page, and quickly out of public view. Although it is difficult or impossible to censor the posting it is now lost in a sea of unrelated and unuseful postings. By this means it becomes effective to keep the readers of the forum reading unrelated and non-issue items.

Technique #2 - 'CONSENSUS CRACKING'

A second highly effective technique (which you can see in operation all the time at www.abovetopsecret.com) is 'consensus cracking.' To develop a consensus crack, the following technique is used. Under the guise of a fake account a posting is made which looks legitimate and is towards the truth is made - but the critical point is that it has a VERY WEAK PREMISE without substantive proof to back the posting. Once this is done then under alternative fake accounts a very strong position in your favour is slowly introduced over the life of the posting. It is IMPERATIVE that both sides are initially presented, so the uninformed reader cannot determine which side is the truth. As postings and replies are made the stronger 'evidence' or disinformation in your favour is slowly 'seeded in.' Thus the uninformed reader will most like develop the same position as you, and if their position is against you their opposition to your posting will be most likely dropped. However in some cases where the forum members are highly educated and can counter your disinformation with real facts and linked postings, you can then 'abort' the consensus cracking by initiating a 'forum slide.'

Technique #3 - 'TOPIC DILUTION'

Topic dilution is not only effective in forum sliding it is also very useful in keeping the forum readers on unrelated and non-productive issues. This is a critical and useful technique to cause a 'RESOURCE BURN.' By implementing continual and non-related postings that distract and disrupt (trolling ) the forum readers they are more effectively stopped from anything of any real productivity. If the intensity of gradual dilution is intense enough, the readers will effectively stop researching and simply slip into a 'gossip mode.' In this state they can be more easily misdirected away from facts towards uninformed conjecture and opinion. The less informed they are the more effective and easy it becomes to control the entire group in the direction that you would desire the group to go in. It must be stressed that a proper assessment of the psychological capabilities and levels of education is first determined of the group to determine at what level to 'drive in the wedge.' By being too far off topic too quickly it may trigger censorship by a forum moderator.

Technique #4 - 'INFORMATION COLLECTION'

Information collection is also a very effective method to determine the psychological level of the forum members, and to gather intelligence that can be used against them. In this technique in a light and positive environment a 'show you mine so me yours' posting is initiated. From the number of replies and the answers that are provided much statistical information can be gathered. An example is to post your 'favourite weapon' and then encourage other members of the forum to showcase what they have. In this matter it can be determined by reverse proration what percentage of the forum community owns a firearm, and or a illegal weapon. This same method can be used by posing as one of the form members and posting your favourite 'technique of operation.' From the replies various methods that the group utilizes can be studied and effective methods developed to stop them from their activities.

Technique #5 - 'ANGER TROLLING'

Statistically, there is always a percentage of the forum posters who are more inclined to violence. In order to determine who these individuals are, it is a requirement to present a image to the forum to deliberately incite a strong psychological reaction. From this the most violent in the group can be effectively singled out for reverse IP location and possibly local enforcement tracking. To accomplish this only requires posting a link to a video depicting a local police officer massively abusing his power against a very innocent individual. Statistically of the million or so police officers in America there is always one or two being caught abusing there powers and the taping of the activity can be then used for intelligence gathering purposes - without the requirement to 'stage' a fake abuse video. This method is extremely effective, and the more so the more abusive the video can be made to look. Sometimes it is useful to 'lead' the forum by replying to your own posting with your own statement of violent intent, and that you 'do not care what the authorities think!!' inflammation. By doing this and showing no fear it may be more effective in getting the more silent and self-disciplined violent intent members of the forum to slip and post their real intentions. This can be used later in a court of law during prosecution.

Technique #6 - 'GAINING FULL CONTROL'

It is important to also be harvesting and continually maneuvering for a forum moderator position. Once this position is obtained, the forum can then be effectively and quietly controlled by deleting unfavourable postings - and one can eventually steer the forum into complete failure and lack of interest by the general public. This is the 'ultimate victory' as the forum is no longer participated with by the general public and no longer useful in maintaining their freedoms. Depending on the level of control you can obtain, you can deliberately steer a forum into defeat by censoring postings, deleting memberships, flooding, and or accidentally taking the forum offline. By this method the forum can be quickly killed. However it is not always in the interest to kill a forum as it can be converted into a 'honey pot' gathering center to collect and misdirect newcomers and from this point be completely used for your control for your agenda purposes.

CONCLUSION

Remember these techniques are only effective if the forum participants DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM. Once they are aware of these techniques the operation can completely fail, and the forum can become uncontrolled. At this point other avenues must be considered such as initiating a false legal precidence to simply have the forum shut down and taken offline. This is not desirable as it then leaves the enforcement agencies unable to track the percentage of those in the population who always resist attempts for control against them. Many other techniques can be utilized and developed by the individual and as you develop further techniques of infiltration and control it is imperative to share then with HQ.

 

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Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:36 | 2927332 stiler
stiler's picture

a friend of mine went into the woods recently and the trees spoke to her and said, "Get the heck out!"

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 12:44 | 2928173 therearetoomany...
therearetoomanyidiots's picture

That's funny, I went into the woods last night and the trees spoke to me and they said, "You polluting bastard, if we had hands we'd vote Obama."

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 19:26 | 2929342 forexskin
forexskin's picture

good thing we now got rules to protect all those trees and gerbils and spotted owls... rest assured that nothing in china is endangered, since most everything with feet was eaten in preparation for apple's groundbreaking at the foxxcon site.

also good thing nike and their ilk figured out how to protect the environment here in the good ole usa from its evil little competitors - nothing like a little lobbying on behalf of snail darters to pull up the drawbridge behind you...

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:32 | 2927318 Bicycle Repairman
Bicycle Repairman's picture

"450 billion trees on the planet and they have a dollar
value sufficient to finance part of our collective
debts if we just cut them all down"

This would work well with social security.  All odious debt should be cancelled.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:37 | 2927334 Jim in MN
Jim in MN's picture

"Here are your 100 pine trees in northern Canada.  Don't cut too fast and enjoy your retirement." 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:44 | 2927358 Bicycle Repairman
Bicycle Repairman's picture

If (price of 100 Northern Candian pine trees - minus of cutting, shipping and selling) = X = actuarial value of my SS benefit, then it's a sale.  Especially of the alternative is zero.  Which is <<< X.

Did you know people hold trees in their portfolios?  These trees are in far flung places like Brazil or New Zealand.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:25 | 2927488 malikai
malikai's picture

If you can't hold it, you don't own it.

But I'm sure it's a great scam if you can make it.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 17:56 | 2929123 Bicycle Repairman
Bicycle Repairman's picture

There is counterpart risk to be sure.  At least you can diversify your governmental risk.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:00 | 2927229 Hannibal
Hannibal's picture
“Rogue” U.S. General Arrested for Activating Special Forces Teams; Ignoring Libya Stand-Down Order...

http://www.thedailysheeple.com/rogue-u-s-general-arrested-for-activating...

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 20:43 | 2929722 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

Hannibal:

"“Rogue” U.S. General Arrested..."

Nyet, tovarich, neither arrested nor fired (yet nor yet).

It's all in the playbook, the launch to IP or staging area.  But it is curious about this disinformation on a disinformation thread hosted by GW-disinformist.

Standing by, 'cuz the hurricane is splashing all over the expansion of this story in all of its aspects.

- Ned

I'm still going with the over !

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:56 | 2927338 Bicycle Repairman
Bicycle Repairman's picture

I suspect the Libyan mobs were rent-mobs.  Who rented them?

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 11:25 | 2927916 Carmagnole
Carmagnole's picture

Probably an interest group desiring both an increase of regional tensions for political purposes and the silencing of a locally influential voice who expressed ideas contrary to their interests

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-ambassador-chris-stevens-wou...

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:52 | 2927580 Money 4 Nothing
Money 4 Nothing's picture

Hillary Clinton personally handles the Muslim Brotherhood and we now finance Al Quaeda via Arab springs (USAID) to mount destabilization campaigns. Nice Country we have become.. Huh?

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 11:53 | 2928004 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Let's also not forget that the rebels founded a central bank that was instantly "recognized" by the West, while Kadaffy was still in power.

That was a true WTF moment.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 18:43 | 2929283 forexskin
forexskin's picture

Let's also not forget that the rebels founded a central bank that was instantly "recognized" by the West, while Kadaffy was still in power.

nope, totally expected. you taking notes for when iran is stepped back into line?

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 16:58 | 2928953 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

War is an expensive racket, and the rebels needed some place to deposit/cash Barry's and Baby Bonaparte's checks.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:40 | 2927530 fuu
fuu's picture

My bet would be Russia.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 07:46 | 2927209 Jugdish
Jugdish's picture

I'm just an ordinary black man, tryin to make a dolla outta 15 cents.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 16:53 | 2928928 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

You sound like a legit inner city schooled black man to me.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 11:20 | 2927900 OneTinSoldier66
OneTinSoldier66's picture

Problem is, a dollar isn't even worth 15 cents anymore. You might be better off trying to turn water into wine.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 07:45 | 2927208 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

I looked at the SLV yahoo board.  That might be a case study for this case study.  Just the same IDs posting endless nonsense for over a year 24/7.  I am not sure it is even a messageboard.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 07:03 | 2927177 nmewn
nmewn's picture

#7...Author posts a list of known troll tactics in an attempt to delegitimize and/or censor anyone who might disagree with his musings or point of view. If successful, only the author and his accolytes, control the flow of information toward his predetermined destination.

In essence, he creates an Amen Corner in his internet church, where his flock can shout down apostates while heeping nothing but praise on him.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 20:38 | 2929702 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

nmewn: da, also known as Stalinistic tactics.

Tue, 10/30/2012 - 18:19 | 2932951 nmewn
nmewn's picture

Da.

I've been following GW's little #1-15 marching orders script (or whatever) since he first started using it. Its meant as intimidation...nothing more.

The thing is...GW has his own blog where his willing parishioners can drink his brand of kool-aid. ZH is different. Everyone is free to say what they want but no one is forced to believe it or remain quite.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 18:39 | 2929268 forexskin
forexskin's picture

where his flock can shout down apostates while heeping nothing but praise on him.

yup, sure shut you up...

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:41 | 2927536 Christophe2
Christophe2's picture

As if.

 

This is significant info that TPTB are trying to keep hidden, as evidenced here:

http://cryptome.org/2012/07/censored-slashdot-post.htm

 

And FYI, here's a much longer entry that adds quite a bit to what's above:

http://cryptome.org/2012/07/gent-forum-spies.htm

(go 1 page down to see where more 'techniques' are revealed)

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 16:53 | 2928888 New World Chaos
New World Chaos's picture

The second link is long but worth it.  Advise saving it to your computer and checking it every so often if you are involved in any real-world groups.  COINTELPRO is still out there trying to punk you, waste your time, and set you up.  They have some powerful psychological techniques.  They eat naive do-gooders for breakfast.  Fight Clubbers should be tougher so they may go straight to trumped up charges.  This is especially likely in light of this leak stating that when TSHTF, preppers will be treated as terrorists:  http://www.prisonplanet.com/national-guard-whistleblower-doomsday-preppers-will-be-treated-as-terrorists.html

Don't be a chump.  Learn to recognize the warning signs and emotional manipulations from various types of agents.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 06:51 | 2927169 AvoidingTaxation
AvoidingTaxation's picture

First rule: you don't speak about fight club.

second rule: you don't speak about fight club.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 14:18 | 2928370 Precious
Precious's picture

Final rule: There are no rules.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 20:37 | 2929698 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

yes my precious, yessss

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 06:30 | 2927155 jballz
jballz's picture

jhhg bvnv vbnhhnhg     hnn fhm h hm gh      hgmggggggggggggggggmhm hhhhhhhhh fgnfgfnfgngnf fgn gn ndb sfb f.k5

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 06:26 | 2927154 mogul rider
mogul rider's picture

Ya mean my attacks on gold and silver pumpers last year helped the CIA. Wow cool.

I was kinda trying to help the stupids listening to these trolls. Oh well at least it helped someone.

 

 

 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 03:29 | 2927083 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

anyone who's been reading ZH long enough will recognise this,

If the intensity of gradual dilution is intense enough, the readers will effectively stop researching and simply slip into a 'gossip mode.' In this state they can be more easily misdirected away from facts towards uninformed conjecture and opinion.

I've not had a TeeVee in over a decade, yet I know more about programming than I've ever wanted to merely skimming thread posts here. . .

and the rapid filling of threads with caliber 'n' ammo stats, I've always thought that might be way too much info to be posting online, even for the obvious interwebs points scored.

GW has always had his whining trolls, which is odd - it's not like anyone's forced to read his posts, and yet. . . ^^


Mon, 10/29/2012 - 10:49 | 2927777 QQQBall
QQQBall's picture

2 decades w/o TV here, but I do get discs for shows like entourage and madmen. Still, the radio in the car, internet, etc., and although I have never seen DWTS, I still know that someone fell recently and mariah carey is fighting with nicki M on another show. Its just a series of funnels driving sheeple to adverts.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 15:29 | 2928685 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

aye, when I had the idiot box indoors it was mainly to watch things from netflix - both completely unnecessary for me lately, but watching "discs" isn't what drives the MASSIVE trollage of "Kardashian" or "honey boo boo" or whatever other enTrancing crap that's presented as "reality" showings nowadays.

it really is analogous to the gladiator crowd control, a cheering, feeding frenzy of low-brow mocking "entertainment" for the masses, while the burning and looting of the world continues unnoticed. . .

as long as there are a few people left to mock, and dominate the conversations, then things must be okay, no worries. . .

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:52 | 2927064 Nage42
Nage42's picture

Your tax dollars at work?

 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:32 | 2927505 kaiserhoff
kaiserhoff's picture

Bingo, we have a winner!

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:29 | 2927042 antidisestablis...
antidisestablishmentarianismishness's picture

Bottom line is you can't trust anybody, especially your imaginary friends on ZH because it's impossible to know what their motivations are and of course this would be the perfect place to infiltrate the already paranoid population with subversive elements. Oh my.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:21 | 2927028 Neethgie
Neethgie's picture

I am sorry but alot of these are going to help reinforce false beliefs, Already on the net we see constant "You R TROLL", for anyone who disagrees with someone.

The whole consensus cracking idea, is pretty poor because that allows someone who is wrong, ie alot of tinfoilers to believe "hey this guy is consensus cracking, this proves i am right" thereby reinforcing a false point.

 

I think point 6 would be redundant as people vote with their feet, if a website i visit doesn't give me the things i want, then i find/make(if i thought sucessfull) a website to accomodate that.

 

Why do i have a feeling that the reason GW published this is because sometimes his left leaning blog is not met with appoval from zh, readers so now we are being labelled LE.

 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:20 | 2927474 tmosley
tmosley's picture

Actually, it should be telling you to attack weak arguments, even if they appear to be on your "side" ie they support some over-arching idea that you believe in.

For more info on the cognitive science behind this concept, read the following stub and the articles it links to: http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Arguments_as_soldiers

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:31 | 2927500 malikai
malikai's picture

That's right. The weak argument believed in can cause quite a backlash in the feeble mind, once disproven.

Facts first.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:58 | 2927071 Questan1913
Questan1913's picture

Neethgie

"Why do i have a feeling that the reason GW published this is because sometimes his left leaning blog is not met with appoval from zh, readers so now we are being labelled LE."

And why do I have the feeling that your reaction to this article is akin to a vampire having a cross shoved in his face?  And thanks for describing yourself using the acronym LE, that is just so telling.

George Washingtons blog leftwing???  Maybe to a nascent facist.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 05:09 | 2927120 Neethgie
Neethgie's picture

There we go, self reinforcing..

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:05 | 2927021 The Beam
The Beam's picture

This has happened here before..... 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 01:28 | 2926983 a growing concern
a growing concern's picture

Shouldn't law enforcement spend more time, I don't know, catching criminals, rather than trolling for people and inciting them to commit crimes?  If they have that much time on their hands that they're spending all day trolling internet forums as part of their "job", maybe it's time for some budget cuts because there's so little crime.  

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 08:28 | 2927304 Widowmaker
Widowmaker's picture

Because disagreement is a crime - right out of the faggot guide to politics:

All gays - all the time - anything less is a hate crime.

Just ask any puffer with no self esteem.

 

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 02:41 | 2927054 cynicalskeptic
cynicalskeptic's picture

wouldn't have any 'terrorist' arrests without the FBI or wohever inciting hotheads and providing them with all the necessary materials for their 'attack'

it's a self-serving cycle - incite people to bad behavior, arrest them, tout your 'success' and use the arrest as evidence that MORE proactive action needs to be taken to prevent further harm.  Old technique - a good number of the 'violent anti-war radicals' in the Vietnam era were law enforcement acting undercover - many of the neo-Nazi white power leaders are on law enforcement payrolls.

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 09:23 | 2927478 optimator
optimator's picture

In the 50's and 60's the FBI was very active in penetrating the Communist Party of the U.S., so active that J. Edgar Hoover was quoted as saying, "“If it were not for me there would not be a Communist Party of the United States because I financed the Communist Party, in order to know what they are doing.”

Mon, 10/29/2012 - 10:26 | 2927708 Carmagnole
Carmagnole's picture

so bullish

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!