This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Top Social Media Websites Caught Censoring Controversial Content
Facebook pays low-wage foreign workers to delete certain content based upon a censorship list. For example, Facebook deletes accounts created by Palestinian resistance groups.
Digg was caught censoring stories which were controversial or too critical of the government. See this and this.
Now, even social media site Reddit – which helped launch the anti-Sopa Internet blackout and publicize GoDaddy’s slimy Sopa support – is doing the same thing.
As just one example, posts from this website are being censored by Reddit. Specifically, a friend of this site who has submitted stories to Reddit has received the following messages of rejection from a Reddit moderator named davidreiss666:
from davidreiss666 via /r/worldnews/
WashingtonBlog is not something we consider a good source for r/Worldnews.
from davidreiss666 via /r/worldnews/
Please submit that story from an alternate domain. Thank you.
And another moderator named Maxion:
from Maxion via /r/worldnews/
I am sorry but this submission is not appropriate for this subreddit.
There are certainly also more open-minded moderators at Reddit. But a couple of censors can squash discussion on entire topics.
WHY ARE THEY CENSORING?
Why are they censoring?
Well, censorship is rampant in America … and social media has grown so big that it has become a target as well.
In addition, as I pointed out last year [for ease of reading, we'll skip indentation]:
Wired reported on Friday:
The Pentagon is looking to build a tool to sniff out social media propaganda campaigns and spit some counter-spin right back at it.
On Thursday, Defense Department extreme technology arm Darpa unveiled its Social Media in Strategic Communication (SMISC) program. It’s an attempt to get better at both detecting and conducting propaganda campaigns on social media. SMISC has two goals. First, the program needs to help the military better understand what’s going on in social media in real time — particularly in areas where troops are deployed. Second, Darpa wants SMISC to help the military play the social media propaganda game itself.
This is more than just checking the trending topics on Twitter. The Defense Department wants to deeply grok social media dynamics. So SMISC algorithms will be aimed at discovering and tracking the “formation, development and spread of ideas and concepts (memes)” on social media, according to Darpa’s announcement.
***
SMISC needs to be able to seek out “persuasion campaign structures and influence operations” developing across the social sphere. SMISC is supposed to quickly flag rumors and emerging themes on social media, figure out who’s behind it and what. Moreover, Darpa wants SMISC to be able to actually figure out whether this is a random product of the hivemind or a propaganda operation by an adversary nation or group.
Of course, SMISC won’t be content to just to hang back and monitor social media trends in strategic locations. It’s about building a better spin machine for Uncle Sam, too. Once SMISC’s latches on to an influence operation being launched, it’s supposed to help out in “countermessaging.”
***
SMISC is yet another example of how the military is becoming very interested in what’s going on in the social media sphere.
Indeed, as I wrote in February:
I noted in 2009, in an article entitled “Does The Government Manipulate Social Media?”:
The U.S. government long ago announced its intention to “fight the net”.
As revealed by an official Pentagon report signed by Rumsfeld called “Information Operations Roadmap”:
The roadmap [contains an] acknowledgement that information put out as part of the military’s psychological operations, or Psyops, is finding its way onto the computer and television screens of ordinary Americans.
“Information intended for foreign audiences, including public diplomacy and Psyops, is increasingly consumed by our domestic audience,” it reads.
“Psyops messages will often be replayed by the news media for much larger audiences, including the American public,” it goes on.
***
“Strategy should be based on the premise that the Department [of Defense] will ‘fight the net’ as it would an enemy weapons system”.
Indeed, the Pentagon publicly announced years ago that it was considering using “black propaganda” – in other words, knowing lies.
CENTCOM announced in 2008 that a team of employees would be “[engaging] bloggers who are posting inaccurate or untrue information, as well as bloggers who are posting incomplete information.”
The Air Force is now also engaging bloggers. Indeed, an Air Force spokesman said:
“We obviously have many more concerns regarding cyberspace than a typical Social Media user,” Capt. Faggard says. “I am concerned with how insurgents or potential enemies can use Social Media to their advantage. It’s our role to provide a clear and accurate, completely truthful and transparent picture for any audience.”
In other words, the government is targeting “social media”, including popular user-ranked news sites.
In addition, when you look at what the Israeli lobby has done with Megaphone software to automatically vote stories questioning Israel down and to send pro-Israel letters to politicians and media (see this, this and this), you can start to see how the U.S. military – an even larger and better-funded organization – could substantially influence voting on social news sites with very little effort.
Moreover,the military has outsourced many projects to private contractors. For example, in Iraq, much of the fighting has been outsourced to Blackwater. And governmental intelligence functions have largely been outsourced to private companies.
It is therefore not impossible that the government is hiring cheap labor to downvote stories on the social media sites which question the government, and to post pro-government comments.
(other governments and large companies “astroturf” online as well. See this, this and this.)
I pointed out the same month:
Government propagandists, their hired private contractors and useful idiots are creating “downvote bots” or scripts to bury stories which question the government.
***
One free, simple scripting program to create automatic downvotes of certain topics or news posters is called “Greasemonkey”, which is commonly used on large social news sites such as Reddit.
For example, there are some 2,480 hits … for the google search site:reddit.com greasemonkey downvote. This is some 2,480 times that Reddit users are publicly admitting to using greasemonkey (see also this).
Propaganda agents obviously aren’t going to publicly brag about what they are doing, and you can bet that their use of downvote bots is much greater. Moreover, they probably have more sophisticated software than Greasemonkey.
Today, Raw Story reports that the Air Force ordered software to manage army of fake virtual people:
Internet users would be well advised to ask another question entirely: Are my “friends” even real people?
In the continuing saga of data security firm HBGary, a new caveat has come to light: not only did they plot to help destroy secrets outlet WikiLeaks and discredit progressive bloggers, they also crafted detailed proposals for software that manages online “personas,” allowing a single human to assume the identities of as many fake people as they’d like.
The revelation was among those contained in the company’s emails, which were dumped onto bittorrent networks after hackers with cyber protest group “Anonymous” broke into their systems.
In another document unearthed by “Anonymous,” one of HBGary’s employees also mentioned gaming geolocation services to make it appear as though selected fake persons were at actual events.
“There are a variety of social media tricks we can use to add a level of realness to all fictitious personas,” it said.
Government involvement
Eerie as that may be, more perplexing, however, is a federal contract from the 6th Contracting Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, located south of Tampa, Florida, that solicits providers of “persona management software.”
While there are certainly legitimate applications for such software, such as managing multiple “official” social media accounts from a single input, the more nefarious potential is clear.
Unfortunately, the Air Force’s contract description doesn’t help dispel their suspicions either. As the text explains, the software would require licenses for 50 users with 10 personas each, for a total of 500. These personas would have to be “replete with background , history, supporting details, and cyber presences that are technically, culturally and geographacilly consistent.”
It continues, noting the need for secure virtual private networks that randomize the operator’s Internet protocol (IP) address, making it impossible to detect that it’s a single person orchestrating all these posts. Another entry calls for static IP address management for each persona, making it appear as though each fake person was consistently accessing from the same computer each time.
The contract also sought methods to anonymously establish virtual private servers with private hosting firms in specific geographic locations. This would allow that server’s “geosite” to be integrated with their social media profiles, effectively gaming geolocation services.
The Air Force added that the “place of performance” for the contract would be at MacDill Air Force Base, along with Kabul, Afghanistan and Baghdad. The contract was offered on June 22, 2010.
It was not clear exactly what the Air Force was doing with this software, or even if it had been procured.
Manufacturing consent
Though many questions remain about how the military would apply such technology, the reasonable fear should be perfectly clear. “Persona management software” can be used to manipulate public opinion on key information, such as news reports. An unlimited number of virtual “people” could be marshaled by only a few real individuals, empowering them to create the illusion of consensus.
***
That’s precisely what got DailyKos blogger Happy Rockefeller in a snit: the potential for military-run armies of fake people manipulating and, in some cases, even manufacturing the appearance of public opinion.
“I don’t know about you, but it matters to me what fellow progressives think,” the blogger wrote. “I consider all views. And if there appears to be a consensus that some reporter isn’t credible, for example, or some candidate for congress in another state can’t be trusted, I won’t base my entire judgment on it, but it carries some weight.
“That’s me. I believe there are many people though who will base their judgment on rumors and mob attacks. And for those people, a fake mob can be really effective.”
***
“Team Themis” [tasked by the Chamber of Commerce to come up with strategies for responding to progressive bloggers and others] also included a proposal to use malware hacks against progressive organizations, and the submission of fake documents in an effort to discredit established groups.
HBGary was also behind a plot by Bank of America to destroy WikiLeaks’ technology platform, other emails revealed. The company was humiliated by members of “Anonymous” after CEO Aaron Barr bragged that he’d “infiltrated” the group.
Postscript: Gaming social media is only one propaganda technique employed by the government:
- Famed Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein says the CIA has already bought and paid for many successful journalists
- The New York Times discusses in a matter-of-fact way the use of mainstream writers by the CIA to spread messages
- A 4-part BBC documentary called the “Century of the Self” shows that an American – Freud’s nephew, Edward Bernays – created the modern field of manipulation of public perceptions, and the U.S. government has extensively used his techniques
- The Independent discusses allegations of American propaganda
- And one of the premier writers on journalism says the U.S. has used widespread propaganda
»
- advertisements -
Don't think that it's free. We're paying from one budget source or another. Look for the item labeled "Misc. Commun. Expenses" or something like that.
This does happen. I have seen my rants disappear from even my own newsfeed. Sure don't want anyone to see negative sentiment towards our government policies. Still waiting for the men in black to be at my door.
If I post anything on jp.dk my post is blackholed. Several posters posting similar items - that the bank resque package put the Danish taxpayers in the hole for DKK 4000 Trillion or 4 years of tax revenue - also went away.
An article where a journalist recently, a year after the discussion started, wrote the same thing - PooF - article gone, search engine cannot find it!
Probably the gardening section is not propaganda ... probably.
The social democrats recently redacted their home page so whatever they promised before the election is gone from history too.
The most terrible aspect is that people are well aware of it, but they have bigger problems, energy bills, unemployment e.t.c., and cant be arsed to deal with censorship and bank fraud on top of all that. So to keep the gig going "They" will have to keep people scared and worried - which will mean hard times 4ever and ever.
In Europe, the euros never really bought The Terrorist Threat; we had Bader Meinhoff, IRA, Brigado Rosso -> Effective Threats for decades. Al Queda .... yeh - guys who set fire to their underpants and got lucky Once while obviously killing all the talent. So, the pressure will be placed on The Economy.
i have relevant experience along those lines which i will be self censoring
Twitter/Facebook/Google can censor only to a point. Where it really affects the infowar is the fact that the average joe-schmoe won't be able to stumble onto a key article or quote that enlightens them or makes them think.
Plus, the real problem today is the fact that most young people know, or have an idea, on how they are getting screwed. Most Baby Boomers do not, like my Dad. He still watches the nightly news.
But for the intelligent media observer, you know where to get your info. You follow the people and tags that actually provide the daily dose of shitstorm that is going on around us.
It's not the needle that we should be concerned with; it when the government burns the haystack when we should be concerned. That hasn't happened (yet).
Can you image the day when TPTB shuts down Twitter?
the public would never stand for being deprived of the inane chatter about what asshole is shopping for what product where
Maybe they don't consider information snipped and pasted from Before It is News to be anything reliable.
The US-based internet companies, starting with ultimate criminal Master Censor, Google Inc., are destroying web freedom ... at least there are some legal cases in the EU against them:
Live Photo: Google Inc. Caught Censoring EU Search Results (for USA - CIA)
Google Internet Censorship - Censure d'Internet par Google - Internet censuur door Google
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22325431@N05/6100668211/in/photostream
'Ex-Agent: CIA Seed Money Helped Launch Google', retired intelligence agent Robert David Steele interviewed by Paul Joseph Watson, and speaking of the CIA's Dr Rick Steinheiser and his connections with Google:
http://www.infowars.com/articles/bb/google_cia_seed_money_launched_googl...
The CIA funding at the origin of Facebook -
« ... funding into Facebook ($US12.7 million) came from venture capital firm Accel Partners. Its manager James Breyer ... served on the board ... of In-Q-Tel, a venture capital firm established by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1999. One of the company's key areas of expertise are in "data mining technologies". »
http://adventofdeception.com/facebook-ciacover-nwo-agenda/
Quite funny - 'satire' but truthful - Onion News Report on the CIA's Facebook project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqggW08BWO0
Current case: Wikipedia and Google in the attack on Europe, trying to murder European citizens criticising the USA:
Report to the EU Parliament and the Commission of the European Union
Anti-Competition Crimes of EU Internet Monopoly Google Inc. (with CIA) and Wikipedia (with CIA), to Erase EU Journalism, to Slander and Murder EU - Polish Citizen, Writer, Journalist, Non-Zionist Jew, and Harvard graduate
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2011/07/77181.shtml
Original in pdf format:
http://eureportsnonzionistjews.hostfile.nl/file/0zndj5ea3v/410/nzjd-eu-r...
Various spook agencies have employees permanently assigned to Google, Facebook, Twitter etc. You can guess which agencies, and it's more than a few.
http://www.chillingeffects.org/
sorry that you are being herded..
but anyone who thinks Google is NOT! Herding people into Memes that are Rockefeller Approved, is crazy. (if you dont like my Rockefeller Humor? go kill yourself!)
People are herded EVERY! DAY!! to the highest paying Client that Google has been Paid Per Click by..
But Google is NOT! in any way using these same tools for Political Reasons? Fucking Seriously? How Stupid are People???
Never Mind.. I forget how stupid people are!
That's some fineass salesmanship there, sunshine. Theoretically, you post your exclamation point ridden and heavily bolded jive because you - you know - want to convince other people to see things your way. But then, in a particularly unorthodox move, you always add that special "FL" touch: you make sure to tell your prospective buyers that they're stupid, moronic sheeple.Hell, even used car salesmen usually eschew the old "call the customer a fucking idiot" technique nowdays.
You must be from New York.
I am honestly just TRYING too point out the obvious..
But you will do better to protect the sheep, rather than culling me.. too educate them, don’t chya think?
Good Luck and God Bless You in the Exercise!
As for me being from New York.. that’s funny considering you typed it to me on the interwebs! You are of course welcome to see me and say that to my face anytime, that time allows.. for you of course.
Just tell him to go back to Jersey JW. Probally works for the Squid.
Paying him for advice are you?
John.. dont hurt him.
You made me spit coffee out of my nose and that is good enough.
Well, much as I hate censorship of sincere opinions which are contrarian and thus thought enrichening, beneficial to society, I do despise the spam scam on Internet. We see it here on ZH too. So some cleaning of Internet 1 and Internet 2 networks are in order. Spam and viral checks are necessary even vital, but not sincere opinion censorship.
Ends and means. Fight to keep the Net truly uncensored but curtailed of spams and viruses.
That should be the pledge of all social network surveillance operations, which should be checked by independent bodies to ensure that no hanky panky occurs.
As for media manipulation its as old as the hooker on the street. How do you prevent society from auto-secreting its own microbial fungus; impossible to achieve truly as is the virgin MAry syndrome. Perfection in not of this world, regulation is and its a never ending game.
"Fight to keep the Net truly uncensored but curtailed of spams and viruses."
Key word here is "spam." (I think that "viruses" [viri?] are a bit easier to define/identify.) If it's anything like the definition of porn (ref: http://library.findlaw.com/2003/May/15/132747.html):
then it's really just a crap-shoot and someone like Rick Santorum (the "fake" [yea Ron Paul!]) could identify all speech that's not praising God, er, a, the US to be "spam."
This is why I love ZH. Love me or hate me, but ZH provide us with the opportunity to state our minds in an unsensored way.
ZH seems legit, but everything must be questioned. Even Alex Jones is serving someone's interests (or he'd be dead/jailed by now).
Cartharsis if nothing else. Nobody really cares if you sit in front of your computer all day bitching about the banks, or the Jews, or the New World Order, or chem trails or some of the crazier posts in the comments section of InfoWars/PrisonPlanet.
Americans have Alex Jones and Zero Hedge. Meanwhile 45% of Greeks have never used the internet. Which population is rioting in the streets and throwing molotovs? Which one is sitting on their fat asses?
1% of the Greeks are rioting and etc. All they can do. No guns. When America boils over, it will be an epic, mass killing match. Greeks are civilized....US = Gunfighter Nation. America is like a gigantic caldera soon to explode. No need to rush it.
When American asses get a bit thinner, and that time is coming soon, that will probably change. OTOH Americans are the most psyopsed people, programmed from birth. Dmitri Orlov claims that nobody in the 1980's USSR believed a damned thing that the government said. Everyone was totally cynical.
Have not had any censorship probs on Twitter!
I can't even access Twitter!
He who doesn't censor you is merely watching you being a turrurist
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2093796/Emily-Bunting-Leigh-Van-...
So, if someone circulates this article will that person be suspect? Handcuffs if a decision is capriciously made that you're supporting terrorism? Praises if a decision is capriciously made that you're supporting HS?
"Internet water army" soldiers don't work for free, someone (or more likely, some Govts!) are funding them...
someone (or more likely, some Govts!) are funding them...
Yes. They must defend their perceived legitimcay above all else... and they will do so by any means necesary.
You lost me at that point.
More panic from GW. Can't say the govt trolls, Hasbara types et al have had any success in discourse poisoning at ZH or any other site I haunt. "Happy Rockefeller"? She still livid? I don't believe it.
I believe you (or someone else) already posted this article.