Russian Disinformation

[esmith]

As most of us know the Justice Dept has taken action against various people and domain sites for what they say is propaganda/disinformation.
What I don't know is what propaganda/disinformation was being promulgated.
It's not that I don't trust the Justice Dept completly but they seem to have somewhat of a bad track record on their assessment of information given to the public.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

here

 

[Regiomontanus]

As most of us know the Justice Dept has taken action against various people and domain sites for what they say is propaganda/disinformation.
What I don't know is what propaganda/disinformation was being promulgated.
It's not that I don't trust the Justice Dept completly but they seem to have somewhat of a bad track record on their assessment of information given to the public.

This is part of it:

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/05/nx-s1-5100829/russia-election-influencers-youtube

 

[Stevicus]

As most of us know the Justice Dept has taken action against various people and domain sites for what they say is propaganda/disinformation.
What I don't know is what propaganda/disinformation was being promulgated.
It's not that I don't trust the Justice Dept completly but they seem to have somewhat of a bad track record on their assessment of information given to the public.

This is part of it:

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/05/nx-s1-5100829/russia-election-influencers-youtube

Based on that article, it appears that they're buying up media in the U.S., which isn't much different from what other major corporations and media conglomerates have been doing these past decades. I think it's safe to say that every political faction is vying for influence and to try to shift public opinion in their favor. Even those from other countries might try to do so.

As for these American right-wing "influencers" supposedly working for the Russians, who cares what they have to say anyway? Nobody can be influenced unless they want to be influenced.

I think it says more about the gullibility of the American public than it does about any nefarious intentions on the Russians' part.

 

[sun rise]

As most of us know the Justice Dept has taken action against various people and domain sites for what they say is propaganda/disinformation.
What I don't know is what propaganda/disinformation was being promulgated.
It's not that I don't trust the Justice Dept completly but they seem to have somewhat of a bad track record on their assessment of information given to the public.

Any big bureaucracy tends that way. Many businesses hide information that the public needs. That's why we have FOIA where people can at least have a way of demanding to know what is going on.

But however imperfect the system is, Trump promised to make it totally political and thus utterly untrustworthy as is the case in authoritarian countries all over the world.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Based on that article, it appears that they're buying up media in the U.S., which isn't much different from what other major corporations and media conglomerates have been doing these past decades. I think it's safe to say that every political faction is vying for influence and to try to shift public opinion in their favor. Even those from other countries might try to do so.

As for these American right-wing "influencers" supposedly working for the Russians, who cares what they have to say anyway? Nobody can be influenced unless they want to be influenced.

I think it says more about the gullibility of the American public than it does about any nefarious intentions on the Russians' part.

The keyword in your post is 'gullible'. As a former STEM educator, and researcher, I must say that the critical thinking skills among many Americans today is simply appalling, in my humble opinion.

 

[Estro Felino]

It already happens.
So much stuff about Putin and the War is unavailable in English. Only in Italian because we have basically no restrictions.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

It already happens.
So much stuff about Putin and the War is unavailable in English. Only in Italian because we have basically no restrictions.

But that is media and that is lies. That is not the truth as such. The real truth is something else. So which is it?

I got it now. You are part of in effect media and we can't trust you. See, that was easy.

 

[Stevicus]

The keyword in your post is 'gullible'. As a former STEM educator, and researcher, I must say that the critical thinking skills among many Americans today is simply appalling, in my humble opinion.

Yes, that seems to be a recurring problem. I've seen this discussion played out during my life, and for the most part, the prevailing opinion has been that this is a democracy and the will of the people is what it is - regardless of how they reached their decision or what might have influenced them. A lot of people have complained about the media and its influence on the electoral process, and the typical response for decades has been "If you don't like what you hear or read in the media, turn it off and don't buy it."

The central idea being that, if the public doesn't like an idea or product, they won't buy it. Whether it's a capitalist marketplace of products and services, or a political marketplace of ideas and candidates, it's pretty much the system we have. It's an open market - it's what many have wanted for a long time without giving much consideration to the potential consequences.

 

[Kathryn]

This makes me so glad that I don't pay any attention to any influencers at all.

 

[sun rise]

This makes me so glad that I don't pay any attention to any influencers at all.

That's wise. I also am very skeptical about media outlets that are known to be inaccurate If I go outside the "Green" area my skepticism goes way up.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

This makes me so glad that I don't pay any attention to any influencers at all.

The word "influencer" itself is like a giant red flag

 

[ImmortalFlame]

As for these American right-wing "influencers" supposedly working for the Russians, who cares what they have to say anyway? Nobody can be influenced unless they want to be influenced.

So, to be clear, is your position is that propaganda and disinformation cannot possibly impact people?

 

[Ebionite]

As most of us know the Justice Dept has taken action against various people and domain sites for what they say is propaganda/disinformation.
What I don't know is what propaganda/disinformation was being promulgated.
It's not that I don't trust the Justice Dept completly but they seem to have somewhat of a bad track record on their assessment of information given to the public.

For some context on Russian interference in U.S. politics I'd recommend a deep dive into the circumstances surrounding the death of Seth Rich.

Legendary Journalist Just Blew the Seth Rich Murder Case Wide Open!

Wikileaks...

thepoliticalinsider.com

Seth Rich FOIA case update Jan. 14, 2023, Huddleston v. FBI, “FBI has finally admitted that Seth Rich is directly linked to the “hack” of the Democratic National Committee email servers in 2016”

Seth Rich FOIA case update Jan.

citizenwells.substack.com

Seth Rich's laptop to be turned over by FBI, judge rules

Seth Rich was killed on July 10, 2016, while making his way home from a night out in Washington, D.C.

www.newsweek.com

 

[Stevicus]

So, to be clear, is your position is that propaganda and disinformation cannot possibly impact people?

Not just by itself and only if people choose to allow it.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

Not just by itself and only if people choose to allow it.

You seriously believe the capacity to be influenced by misinformation and propaganda is a purely voluntary act?

Are you serious?

 

[Stevicus]

You seriously believe the capacity to be influenced by misinformation and propaganda is a purely voluntary act?

Are you serious?

In today's day and age, when most people have access to a plethora of information and a wide variety of news sources, I can't see that there's anything stopping anyone from accessing other sources of information. If they choose to remain inside an echo chamber, it's their choice to do so.

Unless you're suggesting that someone is using some kind of secret mind-control ray or something.

In a closed society, where internet, media, and press are strictly controlled, you might have a point, but we're talking about media and internet in the U.S. here.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

In today's day and age, when most people have access to a plethora of information and a wide variety of news sources,

Stop right there.

You do realise that having such a wealth of information and resources can actually lead to misinformation, right? There is no one "come here for the actual facts" source - the abundance of various news sites with various agendas, the vast number of pundits, think-tanks, channels, tweets, all of these things make it very difficult for a great number of people to really be able to parse misinformation from information. You can't just put all of this on individuals "choosing not to expose themselves to facts". The situation is more complicated. Being misinformed, especially in this day and age, is not always a voluntary act.

I can't see that there's anything stopping anyone from accessing other sources of information. If they choose to remain inside an echo chamber, it's their choice to do so.

Unless they aren't aware they're in an echo chamber, or if there are coercive factors preventing them from leaving that echo chamber, or if the internet services they use are set up in some way that actively dissuades them from leaving that echo chamber.

Unless you're suggesting that someone is using some kind of secret mind-control ray or something.

Do you believe propaganda and misinformation influences people? Yes or no?

In a closed society, where internet, media, and press are strictly controlled, you might have a point, but we're talking about media and internet in the U.S. here.

And the US has absolutely no history of media control, bias, or businesses being entrenched in, say, social media?

Come on. Do you seriously want to argue that mass disinformation and propaganda is only a problem because people are CHOOSING to be misinformed?? If this were true, the solution would be as simple as explaining facts to people. But it isn't, so it isn't.

Don't be absurd.

 

[esmith]

here

No specifics on what the disinformation was.

 

[esmith]

This is part of it:

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/05/nx-s1-5100829/russia-election-influencers-youtube

Again no specifics on what the disinformation was