this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2024
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politics

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114
China-linked 'Spamouflage' network mimics Americans online to sway US political debate (abcnews.go.com)
submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (1 children)

When analysts first noticed Spamouflage five years ago, the network tended to post generically pro-China, anti-American content. In recent years, the tone sharpened as Spamouflage expanded and began focusing on divisive political topics like gun control, crime, race relations and support for Israel during its war in Gaza. The network also began creating large numbers of fake accounts designed to mimic American users.

Spamouflage accounts don't post much original content, instead using platforms like X or TikTok to recycle and repost content from far-right and far-left users. Some of the accounts seemed designed to appeal to Republicans, while others cater to Democrats.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We need a shibboleth. Unfortunately given how America is, good luck getting enough people to agree on anything.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It’s fun sometimes to ask them what they think of NATO, or Alexei Navalny or democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong or etc.

You would think that they would say “Oh yeah I was talking about Claudia De la Cruz because I like her policies / I’m upset about Biden approving Alaskan fossil fuel leases / whatever United States thing we were talking about, but OF COURSE them killing Navalny was a horrifying human rights abuse yes.” And yet, the few times I’ve tried it, that has never happened - it’s always either “well you know he had ties to X Y Z white nationalists” or else silence.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Lemmy is immune to this, right? Riiiight?

With the knowledge/reports that this was going on by Russia in the 2016 election (reports dropped during the election cycle) with suggestions that other countries were likely doing the same, I am not surprised. Hell, it was exposed that even the Trump campaign had their own "~~grass roots astroturfing~~ troll farm" division.

It's made me incredibly skeptical of posters. But it's not too hard to spot potential trolls. I'm also sure there's those that operate in a far more subtle way that even my skepticism doesn't capture.

I wish the communities here had better rules in place to mitigate this. But the rules tend to lean towards "benefit of the doubt" instead of a harder line on dis-incentivizing this from happening throughout our moderated communities. Maybe part of that is a limitation of Lemmy MOD Tools, but another part is definitely a lack of stronger definitions and enforcement of disallowed behavior (bad faith arguments) and enforcement of those rules.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Also, if your vote is based on what a random Lemmy user or other social media user posts... yikes.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

It's usually a slow trickle of slighted information that resonates with somebody until they've flipped to a view/position contrary to their own interests manipulated by a foreign actor. It's why your previous posting behavior was received so negatively, as you were tripping the "trolldar" of many individuals as it seemed you were posting with a "hidden" agenda. Which I have to say, while I don't always agree with you, your recent posting behavior and approach to discussions is no longer tripping my internal warning klaxons.

But an even bigger example is Q-Anon, where there was a slow trickle of info that slowly worked it's way into so many susceptible individuals.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 2 months ago

ABC News - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)Information for ABC News:

MBFC: Left-Center - Credibility: High - Factual Reporting: High - United States of America
Wikipedia about this source

Search topics on Ground.Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/china-linked-spamouflage-network-mimics-americans-online-sway-113342948
Media Bias Fact Check | bot support

[–] [email protected] -5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

You mean I could be getting paid to shit on the diseased lump that is the US political system? Hit me up, Xi

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don’t think it pays very well

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Hey, it's more than doing it for free