Do Russian trolls populate chat rooms?

Do Russian trolls populate chat rooms?

Yes, Russian trolls have been reported to populate chat rooms and other online forums. This activity is part of broader disinformation and influence campaigns aimed at manipulating public opinion, spreading misinformation, and sowing discord in various countries. Here's a detailed look at this phenomenon:

Background

1. Internet Research Agency (IRA)

   • The Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, Russia, is one of the most well-known organizations involved in these activities. It has been linked to extensive online disinformation campaigns.

2. Disinformation Tactics

   • Russian trolls use a variety of tactics, including spreading false information, amplifying divisive content, and impersonating real users to manipulate conversations and influence opinions.

Platforms Targeted

1. Social Media

   • Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have been primary targets for troll activities. Trolls create fake accounts to post and share divisive content, often focusing on controversial social and political issues.

2. Chat Rooms and Forums

   • Trolls also infiltrate chat rooms, forums, and comment sections of websites to disrupt discussions, spread misinformation, and provoke emotional responses.

3. News Websites and Blogs

   • Comment sections of news websites and blogs are also targeted to influence public perception and introduce misleading narratives.

Goals and Impact

1. Sowing Discord

   • One of the main goals is to create division and discord within target societies by amplifying existing tensions and conflicts.

2. Misinformation and Propaganda

   • Trolls spread misinformation and propaganda to distort the truth, undermine trust in institutions, and confuse the public.

3. Political Influence

   • During election cycles, trolls often intensify their efforts to influence voter behavior, spread false information about candidates, and undermine democratic processes.

Detection and Countermeasures

1. Platform Responses

   • Social media companies have taken steps to identify and remove troll accounts. They use algorithms and human moderators to detect suspicious activities and coordinate efforts with government agencies.

2. Public Awareness

   • Increasing public awareness about disinformation tactics helps individuals recognize and critically evaluate the information they encounter online.

3. Regulation and Policy

   • Governments and international organizations are working on regulations and policies to combat online disinformation and increase transparency in digital communications.

Conclusion

Russian trolls have indeed been active in populating chat rooms and other online spaces as part of broader disinformation campaigns. These efforts aim to manipulate public opinion, spread misinformation, and create discord within target societies. While significant efforts are being made to counter these activities, public awareness and critical thinking remain crucial in mitigating their impact.

AI and the United States Presidency

It's not a good sign where we, as progressive American adults, have to somehow fit the round peg that is Jon Stewart into square hole that should be reserved for the most qualified person for the job.  (Jon is indeed a comedian but needs to remind himself of what a thoughtful person he is and that he would be a great President.)

If we are asking ourselves: what does this mean for the future of democracy? We need to have a better mode of predicting power than we have now.  I think AI holds this promise, but novelty itself is what makes blips in the timeline.  https://futuretimeline.net/21stcentury/2020-2029.ht

AI's promise is to make our lives a little bit better.

"We are not on track to control these systems."  

Ok.  So do we have any idea what to do in these situations?  Consult the Lodges!  

I trust in human beings, not necessarily their nature.  In times of crisis, the very many of us band together to figure out what to do in those trying times.  There is also people in the world whose intentions tend to be far worse, and willing to exploit vulnerable people and systems of people in these times.  Some have called it our institutions, but the fact that the US is so very interconnected in the modern world... as well as the fact that the world seems to be on an upward trajectory in terms of enlightened behavior, makes me feel this group is smaller and smaller still as time goes on.

The few that remain in the rare state of malleability of consciousness continue to fascinate me.  One such mind is inside the brain of a one such Henry Rollins.  He argues points to things like 'Education is the End of Disaster Capitalism' and how very right he is.  

"Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian,publisher, actor, and radio DJ."  https://bigthink.com/the-present/a-60-second-commencement-address/

I'm not sure if singer-songwriter holds... just kidding Henry.

Do yourself a favor of listening to this man talk for anything at length and feel yourself getting smarter by osmosis.

Now back to the question at hand:  Is there really a deep state in the world that wields this sort of unbeknownst, untouched power or... and take a deep breath here... we all have a sort of hand in the great "Unknowing"?  As Donald Rumsfeld himself said, "we have a lot of known knowns and a lot of unknown knowns."  Damn straight Don, and count yourself in with the latter I guess.  Does access to the storehouse of all the World make us happier, smarter?  I hope so, and I could probably come up with a list of examples.

Computing power is at the heart of what we, you, most of us do.  It is that little thing that is simultaneously tickling at your brain and a splinter within it.  Just like in the Matrix, Neo is going through something pretty profound that he can't grasp without (spoiler alert) coming into the presence of the mainframe and merging with it.

Does it mean that all of us become cybernetic nodes in the end times?  Of course not.  What it really means is what we've been told at certain times in our lives:  "It's all a ride" - Bill Hicks, "The Singularity is Near" - almost everyone now, "Life is for the living." - Me.  Do not waste your time here.  We've gone over that before.

There are really only a handful of things heads of state can control.  The rest is up to us as human beings and celestial bodies.  Be organized and thoughtful about how you approach the world.  Don't give in to fear and narcissism in an age where you are being constantly reminded how very approachable and accessible the world has become.  Each time we falter we find the capacity to pick ourselves up and dust off.

This world is yours too, so live your life to the fullest.  Be grateful and compassionate and all those ideas which were taught to you young.  It's a great big beautiful orb that we all share so let's try to sell it to our neighbors: the extraterrestrials.