Odd that there's so much focus on Russian meddling and so little on Robert Mercer, Aggregate IQ and Cambridge Analytica, the real 'pros from Dover.' They bring to election meddling a more targeted sophistication than anything from Moscow and they're far more manipulative for their sophistication. No one, however, seems to be scratching the surface on how they may be able to throw elections to their ideological favourites or even just to the highest bidder.
I have received some criticism for not pointing out America's own rich history of electoral meddling abroad, most recently in Ukraine. It's all true. America certainly is getting payback. Unfortunately in this case the result is Donald J. Trump, a danger to us all.
It is my understanding that Robert Mercer has, for a long time, been able to maintain a pretty low profile in the U.S., Mound. Compared to the Koch Brothers, he is a relative unknown. I wonder if that is why his manipulations are not being investigated?
The more I mulled this over, Lorne, the more I saw the flaws. The situation confronting the US and other nations has parallels in aerial warfare, notably radar detection and jamming. It's measure v. counter-measure v. counter-countermeasure ad infinitum.
Periodically a new underwing or belly mounted jamming pod would be introduced. It would be very effective but only for a while. Eventually the other side would invest the resources necessary to improve their radar technology and defeat the jammers.
Chasing the Russian bots is futile. It's a game of whack-a-mole in which the moles can multiply freely and become more elusive with each round. After all, it does seem cheap enough for the results obtained that it's hard to imagine them somehow capitulating.
What I most fear is that the Russian bots become a distraction, a diversion to attract attention away from the more sophisticated, homegrown election manipulation.
Being aware of that influence may be the best defense available, Mound. it has certainly gotten me thinking a little more critically about things. Earlier I was watching a Raw Story feed on Florida students speaking passionately out about the need for gun control, and a few of the comments were clearly from tolls seeking to spread more discord. Russian in origin? Who knows, but since division is what the bots are trying to sow, they have a ready playing field in the United States which, it could be argued, is already irreparably divided.
https://dashboard.securingdemocracy.org/about
ReplyDeleteRussian Botwatch, funny how it retweets wingers and the ususal suspects.
Many thanks for the link, Jay. It makes for some fascinating reading.
DeleteNo real surprise here. Time for the anything-for-profit American social media to get it's shit together.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, the earnest promises of Facebook and Twitter to crack down on these accounts ring a bit hollow, don't they, UU4077?
Delete"Incontrovertible" evidence. Isn't that the word McMaster used?
ReplyDeleteIt is a word that Trump doesn't seem to have in his vocabulary, Owen.
DeleteOdd that there's so much focus on Russian meddling and so little on Robert Mercer, Aggregate IQ and Cambridge Analytica, the real 'pros from Dover.' They bring to election meddling a more targeted sophistication than anything from Moscow and they're far more manipulative for their sophistication. No one, however, seems to be scratching the surface on how they may be able to throw elections to their ideological favourites or even just to the highest bidder.
ReplyDeleteI have received some criticism for not pointing out America's own rich history of electoral meddling abroad, most recently in Ukraine. It's all true. America certainly is getting payback. Unfortunately in this case the result is Donald J. Trump, a danger to us all.
It is my understanding that Robert Mercer has, for a long time, been able to maintain a pretty low profile in the U.S., Mound. Compared to the Koch Brothers, he is a relative unknown. I wonder if that is why his manipulations are not being investigated?
DeleteThe more I mulled this over, Lorne, the more I saw the flaws. The situation confronting the US and other nations has parallels in aerial warfare, notably radar detection and jamming. It's measure v. counter-measure v. counter-countermeasure ad infinitum.
ReplyDeletePeriodically a new underwing or belly mounted jamming pod would be introduced. It would be very effective but only for a while. Eventually the other side would invest the resources necessary to improve their radar technology and defeat the jammers.
Chasing the Russian bots is futile. It's a game of whack-a-mole in which the moles can multiply freely and become more elusive with each round. After all, it does seem cheap enough for the results obtained that it's hard to imagine them somehow capitulating.
What I most fear is that the Russian bots become a distraction, a diversion to attract attention away from the more sophisticated, homegrown election manipulation.
Being aware of that influence may be the best defense available, Mound. it has certainly gotten me thinking a little more critically about things. Earlier I was watching a Raw Story feed on Florida students speaking passionately out about the need for gun control, and a few of the comments were clearly from tolls seeking to spread more discord. Russian in origin? Who knows, but since division is what the bots are trying to sow, they have a ready playing field in the United States which, it could be argued, is already irreparably divided.
Delete