Interesting to see the suggestion that Russia targeting African American voters only matters if it affected the outcome of the election. Voter suppression efforts are illegal whether or not they are successful.
Hundreds of thousands of people following a Russian operative posing as a Black activist to influence Black voters is also deeply problematic and dangerous.
The fact that every candidate running for President in 2016 had - to varying degrees - problems on race that could be exploited goes w/o saying.That’s our ongoing and real problem that Black voters have to, can and do confront in every election.
It’s astonishing to see entire takes that minimize voter suppression efforts by Russians on social media aimed at suppressing the Black vote b/c the Russians were only exploiting racism that already exists. I have repeatedly said that racism is a natl security vulnerability.
But we fight against voter suppression every day in the courts and on the ground. We do so on behalf of Black voters - not candidates or political parties. And we do so to ensure & promote the ability of every eligible voter to vote.
If a white candidate or group organizes robocalls that tell Black voters not to vote on Tues but vote on Wed, or if Russian operatives pose as Black activists & encourage Black ppl not to vote, it’s unacceptable & an illegal voter suppression effort. But I’m ready for the former.
Thankfully the Special Counsel is handling the latter. At least for 2016 (see paragraph 46 of the Mueller IRA indictment). But what of 2020? And what if there is coordination betweeen domestic & foreign voter suppression efforts? It’s serious & should not be minimized.
And finally there’s the real threat to indivs and movements as the Russians sowed discord online, targeting activists in Ferguson and Baltimore, and adopting “Blue Lives Matter” rhetoric. Creating rallies in NY & FL sponsored by fake Muslim groups.
We really need analysis that doesn’t analyze this only through the lens of the effect on candidates (Hillary, Bernie, Trump), but also focuses on the ordinary voters and activists who the Russian operatives attempted to manipulate and who may have been endangered.
Finally, we haven’t even begun to dig into the report’s conclusion that Facebook (and Instagram ?) underplayed the extent of the targeting of African American voters when they testified before Congress.
