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Russian bots, trolls test waters ahead of US midterms

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  krishna  •  6 years ago  •  13 comments

Russian bots, trolls test waters ahead of US midterms

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



russianspies.jpg

In this file photo taken on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, a view of a Business center, believed to be the location of the new "troll factory" in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russian bots and trolls are deploying increasingly sophisticated and targeted tools. Yet experts say most online manipulation ahead of the midterms is coming from U.S. sources. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov, File)

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — The sponsors of the Russian "troll factory" that meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign have launched a new American website ahead of the U.S. midterm election in November. A Russian oligarch has links to Maryland's election services. Russian bots and trolls are deploying increasingly sophisticated, targeted tools. And a new indictment suggests the Kremlin itself was behind previous hacking efforts in support of Donald Trump.

As the U.S. leader prepares to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday, many Americans are wondering: Is the Kremlin trying yet again to derail a U.S. election?


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Krishna
Professor Expert
1  seeder  Krishna    6 years ago

While U.S. intelligence officials call it a top concern, they haven't uncovered a clear, coordinated Russian plot to mess with the campaign. At least so far.

And I think its a pretty safe bet that since they haven't found any evidence so far-- the usual mentally challenged suspects on NT will therefore have us conclude that they will never find it -- just because they haven't found evidence so far! 

It could be that Russian disruptors are waiting until the primaries are over in September and the races become more straightforward — or it could be they are waiting until the U.S. presidential vote in 2020, which matters more for U.S. foreign policy.

In the meantime, an array of bots, trolls and sites like USAReally appear to be testing the waters.

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
2  seeder  Krishna    6 years ago

USAReally's Moscow offices are in the same building as the Federal News Agency. The original troll factory was also initially based with Federal News Agency offices in St. Petersburg, in a drab three-story building where a huge "For Rent/Sale" sign now hangs. The site believed to house the troll factory's current offices is a more modern, seven-story complex with reflective blue windows in a different but similarly industrial neighborhood of St. Petersburg. Associated Press reporters were not allowed inside, and troll factory employees declined to be interviewed.

The USAReally site appears oddly amateurish and obviously Russian, with grammatical flubs and links to Russian social networks.

It says it's aimed at providing Americans "objective and independent" information, and chief editor Alexander Malkevich says it's not about influencing the midterm election. Yet his Moscow office is adorned with a confederate flag, Trump pictures and souvenirs and a talking pen that parrots famous Trump quotations.

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
3  seeder  Krishna    6 years ago

Important related article:

Trump Appointee Intel Chief Dan Coats Says Of Cyberattacks, "We Are At A Critical Point"

Speaking at a scheduled event at  the Hudson Institute,  he adopted the language of former Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet who, in the months ahead of the 9/11 attacks, warned that the "system was blinking red." Coats, citing daily attacks from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, said, "Here we are, nearly two decades later, and I'm here to say the warning lights are blinking red again. (Link)

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
4  Hal A. Lujah    6 years ago

Half of the bots are NT members already.

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
4.1  seeder  Krishna  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @4    6 years ago
Half of the bots are NT members already.

LOL!

I've always wondered why there are so many totally bizarre comments here!

Actually I've been wondering for some time: is it possible that there are really only 4 or 5 real people participating here? And all the other "identites" are actually not real people but rather bots? Conservative bots, Liberal bots. 

Gucifer 352817.20!

(Even a few "Independent" bots?)

Heck, even possibly sites like Twitter and Facebook-- combined they have, worldwide, maybe only 20 or 30 real humans as members-- the rest of the "alleged users" are actually false identities, content created by robots!)

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.2  JBB  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @4    6 years ago
Half of the bots are NT members already.

I don't know about all that butt I will vouch that some on NT did seed Russian troll propaganda...

We do know which stories came right from Putin's Online Troll Army. That proof is still indictable.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
5  JBB    6 years ago
Russian Bots, Trolls Test Waters Ahead Of US Midterms...

Leave Maxine Alone! /s

All kidding aside, attacks upon the sovereignty of our US elections are serious as blowing up ships/buildings...

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
5.1  seeder  Krishna  replied to  JBB @5    6 years ago
All kidding aside, attacks upon the sovereignty of our US elections are serious as blowing up ships/buildings...

And, in fact, could lead to that.....

 
 

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