Check out this story.
First, the British governmentt OPENLY ADMITS that they do everything they can to drive alternative news (clearly distinguished from fake news) down search rankings.
They do this with a "Rapid Response Unit."
1/8
breitbart.com/london/2018/07…
First, the British governmentt OPENLY ADMITS that they do everything they can to drive alternative news (clearly distinguished from fake news) down search rankings.
They do this with a "Rapid Response Unit."
1/8
breitbart.com/london/2018/07…
It's unclear what the "Rapid Response Unit" does exactly, but it's clear that they are a government propaganda arm.
One of their first panics was over a story showing that London's murder rate outstrips New York's.
That story was true. It was reported by Reuters.
2/8
One of their first panics was over a story showing that London's murder rate outstrips New York's.
That story was true. It was reported by Reuters.
2/8
How it went down, per a British civil servant:
“Sensationalist in nature, these stories quickly spread via social media, which was then spotted by RRU monitoring. Action needed to be taken to prevent panic and provide reassurance in the face of these alarmist news stories."
3/8
“Sensationalist in nature, these stories quickly spread via social media, which was then spotted by RRU monitoring. Action needed to be taken to prevent panic and provide reassurance in the face of these alarmist news stories."
3/8
(That quote is a textbook example of the British establishment's inherent paternalism. It's apparently the government's job to "provide reassurance")
4/8
4/8
More:
"For example, following the Syria airstrikes, the unit identified that a number of false narratives from alternative news sources were gaining traction online. These “alt-news” sources are biased and rely on sensationalism rather than facts to pique readers’ interest."
5/8
"For example, following the Syria airstrikes, the unit identified that a number of false narratives from alternative news sources were gaining traction online. These “alt-news” sources are biased and rely on sensationalism rather than facts to pique readers’ interest."
5/8
The government is VERY CONCERNED that people read news instead of official propaganda:
"Due to the way that search engine algorithms work, when people searched for information on the strikes, these unreliable sources were appearing above official UK government information. "
6/8
"Due to the way that search engine algorithms work, when people searched for information on the strikes, these unreliable sources were appearing above official UK government information. "
6/8
The government then "fixed" it. But they won't say how.
"The unit therefore ensured those using search terms that indicated bias were presented with factual information on the UK’s response. The RRU improved the ranking from below 200 to number 1 within a matter of hours."
7/8
"The unit therefore ensured those using search terms that indicated bias were presented with factual information on the UK’s response. The RRU improved the ranking from below 200 to number 1 within a matter of hours."
7/8
In typically Orwellian fashion, the civil servant concludes by stating that the goal is to "preserve our democracy." Of course the goal is the precise opposite. I encourage everyone to read his post in full.
BTW - "alternative news" means ... us.
7/8
gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/news/alex-aike…
BTW - "alternative news" means ... us.
7/8
gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/news/alex-aike…
