USAF purchased system to manage "fake people" on social media sites (aka, USAF creating trolls???)

[housewolf]

The US government is offering private intelligence companies contracts to create software to manage "fake people" on social media sites. Private security firms employeed by the government have used the accounts to create the illusion of consensus on controversial issues.

The contract calls for the development of "Persona Management Software" which would help the user create and manage a variety of distinct fake profiles online. The job listing was discussed in recently leaked emails from the private security firm HBGary after an attack by internet activist last week.

According to the contract, the software would "protect the identity of government agencies" by employing a number of false signals to convince users that the poster is in fact a real person. A single user could manage unique background information and status updates for up to 10 fake people from a single computer.

The software enables the government to shield its identity through a number of different methods including the ability to assign unique IP addresses to each persona and the ability to make it appear as though the user is posting from other locations around the world.

More:
http://www.examiner.com/social-media-in-national/us-gov-software-creates-fake-people-on-social-networks-to-promote-propoganda#ixzz1FpPjlLK0


Addendum:
According to a spokesperson for US Central Command, Persona Management Software is not being used by the US government inside the United States and that the program is limited to “foreign, non-English speaking” websites.

more:
http://www.examiner.com/social-media-in-national/centcom-government-not-using-persona-management-software-united-states?cid=parsely#parsely

[GoneOffShore]

1. the program is limited to “foreign, non-English speaking” websites.

Right.....

[mike_c]

2. it's not really dishonest and dispicable when you only lie to poor brown people....

That makes it all better.

[ecstatic]

3. Most people know the difference between bot profiles and real ones

Just saying... Good luck with that.

[GoneOffShore]

7. Not people who watch Faux exclusively.

[OneAngryDemocrat]

4. As part of a Congressionally Approved dis-information campaign, I am not opposed to this

Propaganda does have war-time value.

In peace-time, not so much.

This program has to be monitored and watched, and how.

And NOT just by a few, select, Congressmen, either.

[Bluebear]

5. I think I know their screen names here.

;)

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. sick puppies.

[Poll_Blind]

8. There are forms and goals of advertisement which are more accurately described as fraud.

Since the late 90's, especially, the quality and authenticity of information has dropped and the market for manipulating or flat-out manufacturing false information has risen considerably.

That the internet is regularly "gamed", that almost all things on the internet are easily manipulated grossly (if there is enough will or money to execute the manipulation) and...that the consciousness of this manipulation is dangerously low among consumers of it.

PB