John Scott-Railton Profile picture
May 22, 2023 10 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Transparency: deleted thread about an article on how CN propaganda likely decontextualized & amplified a video of the Dalai Lama.

Because, though context matters, missing from that discussion is that it's also always ok to question the behavior of people w/authority. 1/
2/ And that "you misunderstood" is so commonly used to dismiss real allegations... that calling out China's deliberate decontextualization (and longstanding attempts to erase) Tibetan culture... without also front-ending this reality didn't strike a good balance.
3/ For those seeking context, Tibet's government in exile, as well as the Dalai Lama, have been subjected to relentless attacks and propaganda by China.

Much of it targeting a western audience.

It is part of a relentless drumbeat of repression. hrw.org/video-photos/i…
4/ Another more recent component of China's propaganda strategy around Tibet and other groups?

Influencers.

It is darkly ironic that they appear on YouTube, which is blocked within China.
aspi.org.au/report/frontie… ImageImageImage
5/ Tibetans, the government in exile, and the Dalai Lama himself are the longstanding targets and victims of concerted repression by China.

And China is constantly experimenting with new tactics to censor and block their voices.
reuters.com/article/china-… Image
6/ China has also been exceptionally active on platforms like #Twitter.

Some of this activity includes amplifying & promoting government narratives about minority groups.

With Twitter's blocking efforts gone, expect loads more...

(Pic 2021)
blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/c… Image
7/ Chinese efforts to shape the discourse aren't just limited to pushing propaganda narratives about minority groups.

Researchers have found evidence of networks targeting specific individuals, like female Asian journalists, for intense attacks.

axios.com/2022/06/03/chi… Image
8/ And it's not just bot accounts. An account of an individual who has worked for Chinese state-run media quickly showed up in the replies to my original tweets... repeatedly harassing and insulting people.
9/ The fact that you find as many headlines about Tibet is no accident.

China's efforts to prevent you from hearing Tibetan news, voices, context and perspectives extend far offline... and far outside China's borders.

codastory.com/authoritarian-… ImageImageImageImage
10/ Repression in Tibet (which is ruled by the #CCP) is *extreme* and seems designed to erase Tibetan identity & culture.

The Dalai Lama and Tibet's Central Tibetan Administration (government in exile) are based in Dharamshala, India.

freedomhouse.org/country/tibet/… ImageImageImageImage

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More from @jsrailton

May 9
I can confidently diagnose @betterhelp as sociopaths.

Promised therapy customers privacy...then gave their mental health info to advertisers.

Victims get less than ten bucks each.
wcnc.com/article/news/n…
Image
A billion+ dollars in revenue in 2023 alone.

Yet @betterhelp paid less than $8 million in fines for victimizing their *entire customer base* for 4+ years.

In a just society with comprehensive privacy legislation, they'd face existential civil & criminal consequences. Image
A single therapist that did this would lose their livelihood and probably wind up with local news camped in front of their office.

A company does it to 800,000 people and you can't even hear the wrist slap from the next room.
Read 7 tweets
Apr 22
BREAKING: US @StateDept imposes visa restrictions on 13 mercenary spyware proliferators / immediate family.

First known application of policy rolled out in Feb.
state.gov/promoting-acco…
Image
2/ Visa restrictions are a promising tool in the fight against mercenary spyware.

Spyware developers & investors want big returns.

But they also want to spend some of that money on travel to the US & their kids' Ivy League tuition.

3/ As the visa announcement ricochets around mercenary spyware land...

A *lot* of shady players are surely having a little panic.

...wondering if their name is or will be on a list.
state.gov/promoting-acco…
Read 4 tweets
Apr 19
SEEN THESE ADS?

Producer is a declared foreign agent, paid ~$6.8m to make Kremlin propaganda on #Ukraine, etc.

He's claimed in filings that those videos wouldn't target the US audiences.

By @taylorgiorno_ & @annalecta opensecrets.org/news/2022/08/r…
Image
Please REPLY if you are seeing "Zelenskyy Unmasked" ads in the US.

In FARA registrations, Ben Swann claims Russian millions are *not* for content targeting the the US.

So who is funding this massive advertising spend to attack #Ukraine?

FARA Example: efile.fara.gov/docs/7151-Supp…
Image
3/ Anecdotally I keep hearing that viewers of my tweets about Russian hacking & election interference are being shown the ads.👇
Read 5 tweets
Apr 18
Report: Russia seeking to interfere in US elections & undermine support for #Ukraine.

Tactics include propaganda-laundering.👇 1/

By @selectedwisdom
blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/…
Image
2/ Rigged courts. Election Fraud... Sound familiar?

It's the work of another #Russian propaganda operator highlighted by @Microsoft that amplifies socially divisive narratives.
Image
Image
@Microsoft 3/ The now-familiar hack-and-leak targeting of US political figures = dynamic to watch as 2024 elections approach.

I think media still struggles to responsibly cover "leak"-branded political hacks.

No doubt Russia has made the same observation.

Ft. @MsftSecIntel. Image
Read 4 tweets
Apr 14
Good morning to everyone except the "OSINT" accounts that spent last night spreading fake, alarmist & unconfirmed content.
2/ OSINT: Open Source INtelligence.

Owes its good reputation to groups like @Bellingcat that carefully VERIFY material before using it in analysis.

But today, if you find "OSINT" in the handle, there's a good chance that you will find neither verification nor analysis.
3/ How to run an "OSINT"-branded grift:

1️⃣Copy unverified spicy videos from Telegram channels, other accounts etc.

2️⃣ Strip sourcing because, hey, don't want to help competitor "OSINT" accounts get clout.

3️⃣Add hyperbolic & alarming caption.

4️⃣ Amplify.
Read 4 tweets
Apr 13
Be wary of OSINT-branded accounts recycling faked & old footage of airstrikes, explosions, interceptions etc.

It happens every time, but in New Twitter they have a direct financial incentive to push out inflammatory nonsense.

There's more 1/
2/ The annoying practice of some OSINT-branded accounts of repeating headlines ginned up & borrowed from somewhere without citation as if it's their own...

Is reckless & dangerous during fast moving conflict where there is huge potential for *consequential* misunderstandings.
3/ Exercise extreme caution in what you amplify & believe.

Twitter is awash with a flood tide of falsehoods tonight.

Some is the work of people trying to farm revenue.

And some is disinformation seeking to seed specific false perceptions.
Read 7 tweets

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