Regarding Giuliani, see sanctions Sep 2020, from “late 2019 through mid-2020, Derkach waged a covert influence campaign centered on cultivating false and unsubstantiated narratives concerning U.S. officials in the upcoming 2020 Presidential Election” home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
“Derkach’s unsubstantiated narratives were pushed in Western media through coverage of press conferences and other news events, including interviews and statements.”
“Between May and July 2020, Derkach released edited audio tapes and other unsupported information with the intent to discredit U.S. officials, and he levied unsubstantiated allegations against U.S. and international political figures.”
“Derkach almost certainly targeted the U.S. voting populace, prominent U.S. persons, and members of the U.S. government, based on his reliance on U.S. platforms, English-language documents and videos, and pro-Russian lobbyists in the United States used to propagate his claims”
Good discussion here from @JonKBateman & @craignewmark similar endpoint as counterterrorism circa 2009 "The debate about countering disinformation can itself be a fact-free zone: long on theories, short on evidence." slate.com/technology/202… via @Slate
agree with the overhype of disinformation when most of what occurs is propaganda, and disinformation without a base of propaganda is less effective, but I'm not convinced there's a data problem (volume), a data sucking center will not be fruitful
There needs to be fusion between Silicon Valley & USG/EU, but it should not be for reactive study, should be for proactive action. Fusion center concept already proposed, met with yawn & shrug securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/advanced-persi…
well here we go "Justice Dept. Links Oath Keepers and Proud Boys Ahead of Capitol Riot" - "member of the Oath Keepers militia said he was communicating with the far-right Proud Boys, prosecutors said, making their first link between the groups." nytimes.com/2021/03/24/us/…
"He called us all to Capitol" not DC....not pretty
Idea Trump wants to start own social media platform tells you he understands how to make the media pay attention to him on Twitter, but nothing about how social media works. Social media runs on ads, only so many Goya & MyPillows around, if its all trolls, will get boring quick
Trump would need Fox News to cover his social media platform relentlessly to monetize an increasingly smaller base, but then comes the moderation problem, would not be long till things get out of control, then guess what happens? Jan 6 Part Deux
may be proved wrong, but idea of Trump social media platform sounds as viable as Trump Steaks, Trump University, Trump Casino Atlantic City... how long can one discuss "Her emails" or "Voter Fraud"?
ok, new day, new thread, intelligence community is back, Day 2...Domestic Violent Extremism Threat in 2021. dhs.gov/sites/default/…
1- As Director Wray noted couple weeks ago, despite Jan 6, most likely to carry out attacks...stochastic haters, bottom left corner from this post clintwatts.substack.com/p/virtual-insa…
2 - Here they note militia groups as most dangerous, while less frequent, potential for mass casualties is higher because magic terrorism combo - Access to targets, Access to weapons, training/experience in operations, motivated to strike. clintwatts.substack.com/p/virtual-insa…
1- Openly observable, unsurprising, key note...Russia this time just tried to go straight to Americans they thought would promote disinformation in America. Why? despite investigations, no laws in place to stop politicians from taking foreign assistance
2- Iran was not a total surprise, but they were the most aggressive in many ways during election 2020. Couldn't tip the vote, but provoked some chaos. fpri.org/fie/foreign-in…