Senate report on Russia's use of Social Media

[Tiggs]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released a new report titled, “Russia’s Use of Social Media.” It is the second volume released in the Committee’s bipartisan investigation into Russia’s attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. election.

The new report examines Russia’s efforts to use social media to sow societal discord and influence the outcome of the 2016 election, led by the Kremlin-backed Internet Research Agency (IRA). The analysis draws on data provided to the Committee by social media companies and input from a Technical Advisory Group comprising experts in social media network analysis, disinformation campaigns, and the technical analysis of complex data sets and images to discern the dissemination of disinformation across social media platforms.

Statement from Chairman Burr:

“Russia is waging an information warfare campaign against the U.S. that didn’t start and didn’t end with the 2016 election. Their goal is broader: to sow societal discord and erode public confidence in the machinery of government. By flooding social media with false reports, conspiracy theories, and trolls, and by exploiting existing divisions, Russia is trying to breed distrust of our democratic institutions and our fellow Americans. While Russia may have been the first to hone the modern disinformation tactics outlined in this report, other adversaries, including China, North Korea, and Iran, are following suit.

 “Any solution has to balance America’s national security interests with our constitutionally-protected right to free speech. Social media companies, federal agencies, law enforcement, and Congress must work together to address these challenges, and I am grateful for the cooperation our Committee has gotten from both the Intelligence Community and the tech industry. My hope is that by continuing to shine a light on this issue, we will encourage more Americans to use social media responsibly, as discerning and informed consumers.”


Source: Senator Burr's website.

[+and-then]

3 minutes ago, Tiggs said:

we will encourage more Americans to use social media responsibly, as discerning and informed consumers.”

For that to be possible, the majority would have to be better educated and more discerning consumers of information out there online.  I don't think that's very likely.  The best we can hope for is that the actual balloting be kept offline so that no hacking can occur.  As was the case in 2016.  

[Farmer77]

Geeze

[ExpandMyMind]

This seems like a big deal. It reads like US democracy is under attack.

[Hankenhunter]

11 minutes ago, ExpandMyMind said:

This seems like a big deal. It reads like US democracy is under attack.

Yes, it does. I can't wait to hear the spin from the glee club.

[Farmer77]

1 hour ago, ExpandMyMind said:

This seems like a big deal. It reads like US democracy is under attack.

You know the more I think about it the more it seems like in light of this bipartisan report if a hypothetical politician were to say, wholly dismiss Russia's attempts to undermine our elections, or even tell the Russia itself that he doesn't personally mind their efforts, said politician would be very much opening himself up to charges of sedition.

 

Edited October 9, 2019 by Farmer77

[preacherman76]

They need to get in line. There are many powerful entities right here in this country who are doing the same thing, and are far more effective.

[+Not A Rockstar]

So, what is the excuse for our own media working along the same lines? 

Incessantly.

[RoofGardener]

Somehow, I think the American Democracy can withstand a few dozen twitter/facebook trolls ?