"Republican sockpuppet war threatens American democracy"

[TomCADem]

Interesting article that notes the increasing use of sock-puppet software use to infiltrate and undermine political movements. While most of the focus has been on the use of such software against foreign interests, this article notes the use of such software by institutions like the Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.examiner.com/energy-in-national/republican-sockpuppet-war-threatens-american-democracy

Conservative institutions like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have seized U.S. military computer software and have turned it on American citizens. The technology that is being used is called persona management systems, and it allows one internet user to appear as though they are 10, 50, 70, or more users online. The uses for such software are many, including military applications such as subverting online activities of violent extremists (al-Qaida), as well as countering enemy propaganda (WikiLeaks) outside the US, but it has most recently been employed against domestic initiatives to regulate greenhouse gases and the development of a clean energy industry by organizations that have no business using U.S. military psychological weapons against American citizens.

The computer software was first developed by military contractors during the Iraq war; it was then expanded to be used against jihadists across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. The software was used in an effort to influence online conversations and steer trends in a programmed manner; it is considered part of the military's psychological weaponry arsenal.

* * *

Sockpupettry in its early days was pretty innocent. It was simply an attempt by online writers to make their webpages seem more popular by posting multiple comments on the bottom of their posts pretending to be several different people. It was considered to be part of the first wave of the phenomenon known as astroturfing, the creation of fake support for an otherwise unpopular idea; in most cases, it was used as part of campaigns focused on pushing corporate agendas.

But in the most recent midterm election cycle in the U.S., we saw the phenomenon of astroturfing and sockpuppetry thrust into politics on a scale not seen before. These fake movements around false information moved into national politics through the creation of the Tea Party, which has quickly been absorbed into the Republican base.

[upi402]

1. just another facet

like sipping from a firehose and no party acting like a shut-off valve

[TomCADem]

3. The Articles Calls Out A Fact That Is Hiding In Plain Sight...

...While everyone is correctly alarmed by the potential military use of such software, the question that is often going un-asked is what about private corporations that are not subject to public scrutiny? What is to keep the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from using such software to try attack and undermine political opponents as discussed in the article?

[snagglepuss]

2. To read later. Bkmkrd. nt

[SpiralHawk]

4. Republicon occultism

one of their standard weapons in their war against American democracy.

Did you ever wonder why Republicons are so into occultism?