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Thread 1/32)
Thirteen years of increasingly far-right policies have left the UK visibly broken: we have a cost-of-living crisis; our NHS is on its knees and our schools are crumbling; and we have rivers flowing with sewage and an unaddressed climate emergency.
Thirteen years of increasingly far-right policies have left the UK visibly broken: we have a cost-of-living crisis; our NHS is on its knees and our schools are crumbling; and we have rivers flowing with sewage and an unaddressed climate emergency.
(2/32)
As a result, the Conservatives are now roughly 20 points behind in the polls and seem likely to lose the next election, possibly quite badly.
politico.eu/europe-poll-of…
As a result, the Conservatives are now roughly 20 points behind in the polls and seem likely to lose the next election, possibly quite badly.
politico.eu/europe-poll-of…
(3/32)
But they still have up to 16 months to turn the polls around. On April 1, we posted a satirical piece setting out how Sunak could still aim to cling to power, using a variety of unethical tactics.
99-percent.org/how-sunak-can-…
But they still have up to 16 months to turn the polls around. On April 1, we posted a satirical piece setting out how Sunak could still aim to cling to power, using a variety of unethical tactics.
99-percent.org/how-sunak-can-…
(4/32)
It is clear now that the Conservatives are already using almost all of those tactics.
It is clear now that the Conservatives are already using almost all of those tactics.
(5/32)
They have abandoned any serious pretence of delivering policies which would help the British people and are instead focussing on disinformation and on pseudo-policies designed to divide the population …
99-percent.org/drilling-while…
They have abandoned any serious pretence of delivering policies which would help the British people and are instead focussing on disinformation and on pseudo-policies designed to divide the population …
99-percent.org/drilling-while…
(7/32)
This affects each of us personally:
· They only need to get us to believe one of their messages to have the desired effect
· They know exactly how to target us individually with the messages we are most likely to believe
· We need to know how to defend ourselves.
This affects each of us personally:
· They only need to get us to believe one of their messages to have the desired effect
· They know exactly how to target us individually with the messages we are most likely to believe
· We need to know how to defend ourselves.
(8/32)
Here are a ‘dirty dozen’ of the key messages they would like us to believe.
Here are a ‘dirty dozen’ of the key messages they would like us to believe.
(9/32)
Of course, no one will believe all 12 messages – they are mutually inconsistent. And most of us will find at least some of them ridiculous. But that does not matter: if they can get us to believe just one of them, they have been successful.
Of course, no one will believe all 12 messages – they are mutually inconsistent. And most of us will find at least some of them ridiculous. But that does not matter: if they can get us to believe just one of them, they have been successful.
(10/32)
Once you believe one of these assertions, even if you do not vote FOR the Conservatives, you are less likely to vote AGAINST them – and in our first-past-the-post system where only two parties can realistically win the next election, that is critical.
Once you believe one of these assertions, even if you do not vote FOR the Conservatives, you are less likely to vote AGAINST them – and in our first-past-the-post system where only two parties can realistically win the next election, that is critical.
(11/32)
As the Brexit campaign showed, modern political campaigning is extremely sophisticated and involves micro-targeting of individuals based on their personality profiles.
theguardian.com/technology/201…
As the Brexit campaign showed, modern political campaigning is extremely sophisticated and involves micro-targeting of individuals based on their personality profiles.
theguardian.com/technology/201…
(12/32)
Many political campaigns today involve using weapons-grade Psyops (psychological operations) against the citizenry.
Many political campaigns today involve using weapons-grade Psyops (psychological operations) against the citizenry.
(13/32)
Using mass data harvesting and micro-segmentation of the population, modern political campaigns are able to target individuals with messages they will find resonant and which appear to come from the sort of source – and via the sort of media – they trust.
Using mass data harvesting and micro-segmentation of the population, modern political campaigns are able to target individuals with messages they will find resonant and which appear to come from the sort of source – and via the sort of media – they trust.
(14/32)
A modern campaign can, in effect, surround the population with a customised wall of disinformation that is extremely convincing.
A modern campaign can, in effect, surround the population with a customised wall of disinformation that is extremely convincing.
(15/32)
To do this, parties enlist the help of companies like Cambridge Analytica and its successor Emerdata which have been involved in Brexit(at least) in the UK and the Trump campaign in the US, as well as Ferdinand Marcos Jr in the Philippines.
rappler.com/nation/bongbon…
To do this, parties enlist the help of companies like Cambridge Analytica and its successor Emerdata which have been involved in Brexit(at least) in the UK and the Trump campaign in the US, as well as Ferdinand Marcos Jr in the Philippines.
rappler.com/nation/bongbon…
(16/32)
The diagram below is far less sophisticated than the level of targeting they employ, but is enough to illustrate the point.
The diagram below is far less sophisticated than the level of targeting they employ, but is enough to illustrate the point.
(17/32)
In this diagram we, the UK population, are segmented into seven groups determined by our shared attitudes to things like:
· Group identity and tribalism;
· Parenting style and authoritarianism;
· Moral foundations; and
· Personal agency and responsibility.
In this diagram we, the UK population, are segmented into seven groups determined by our shared attitudes to things like:
· Group identity and tribalism;
· Parenting style and authoritarianism;
· Moral foundations; and
· Personal agency and responsibility.
(18/32)
And we tend to share other things with those in the same segment as us: we consume the same media, we enjoy the same entertainment and we vote the same way (in general). More sophisticated segmentations would give even higher correlations.
And we tend to share other things with those in the same segment as us: we consume the same media, we enjoy the same entertainment and we vote the same way (in general). More sophisticated segmentations would give even higher correlations.
(19/32)
So once the Conservatives know which segment we fall into, they know what messages to target us with and which media to use to do so. And they know whether the message should appear to be from them or whether it should seem as if it is definitely not coming from them.
So once the Conservatives know which segment we fall into, they know what messages to target us with and which media to use to do so. And they know whether the message should appear to be from them or whether it should seem as if it is definitely not coming from them.
(20/32)
This means that they can target us with a message we are likely to find resonant and which appears to come from a source – and via the media – that we trust.
This means that they can target us with a message we are likely to find resonant and which appears to come from a source – and via the media – that we trust.
(21/32)
Being fooled by these messages is not a sign of being weak-willed, stupid or poorly educated: it is a sign of being human. In fact, believing that we are immune from this kind of manipulation is one of the things that makes us most vulnerable.
Being fooled by these messages is not a sign of being weak-willed, stupid or poorly educated: it is a sign of being human. In fact, believing that we are immune from this kind of manipulation is one of the things that makes us most vulnerable.
(22/32)
We need to know how to defend ourselves
Awareness of the risks is critical. Now we know campaigning is underway already and that we are the targets of very sophisticated psyops, we can start to be more selective about how we interpret each new piece of ‘information.'
We need to know how to defend ourselves
Awareness of the risks is critical. Now we know campaigning is underway already and that we are the targets of very sophisticated psyops, we can start to be more selective about how we interpret each new piece of ‘information.'
(23/32)
In the UK, there are very few sources that can be safely accepted uncritically on political issues.
In the UK, there are very few sources that can be safely accepted uncritically on political issues.
(24a/32)
If, when you look at the Dirty Dozen you find yourself thinking, “most of these are nonsense, but actually number [x] seems right”, ask yourself:
· In the run up to and at the next elections, what actions does this belief lead me to take?
If, when you look at the Dirty Dozen you find yourself thinking, “most of these are nonsense, but actually number [x] seems right”, ask yourself:
· In the run up to and at the next elections, what actions does this belief lead me to take?
(24b/32)
· Which of the two political parties which could win the next election will benefit from me taking those actions?
· What is the original source for this belief?Am I sure it is reliable? Have I found a credible independent source that confirms it?
· Which of the two political parties which could win the next election will benefit from me taking those actions?
· What is the original source for this belief?Am I sure it is reliable? Have I found a credible independent source that confirms it?
(25/32)
If you find that you do believe one of the 12, it is well worth examining that belief very carefully.
If you find that you do believe one of the 12, it is well worth examining that belief very carefully.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
(29b/32)
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
Do not be discouraged: remember that it was poor polling results and letters to MPs that got rid of Johnson and Truss.
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