4 ms·

Twitter information operation disclosures are for US audiences to appease US congress. >Earlier this year, we committed to the United States Congress and the p

Twitter information operation disclosures are for US audiences to appease US congress. >Earlier this year, we committed to the United States Congress and the public to provide regular updates and information regarding our investigation into foreign interference in political conversations on Twitter. https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2018/enabling-further-research-of-information-operations-on-twitter.html https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2018/enabling-... Go through the list of countries / actors Twitter has previously disclosures on, Russia, China, Venezuela, Iran, Spain (Catalan separatist), I think Bangladesh at some point, and these disclosures are functionally US propaganda. I don't think Twitter is an intentional state actor, but who they report on is constrained by limited resources which means they're incentivized to report on (and censor) US geopolitical rivals even though every serious intelligence agency will run information campaigns. >Information operations on Twitter: principles, process, and disclosure https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/information-ops-on-twitter.html https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/informati... Lawful or not, I don't think Twitter has the balls to expose information campaigns contrary to US interest, which is going to be a recipe for more internet balkanization.

shaki-dora 7y ago
Today's data concerns Saudi Arabia, somewhat contradicting your theory.
- dirtyid 7y ago
  Somewhat, though I think Saudi and probably Israel is the perennial controversial ally valley kids have no problem shitting on. Which leads me to question who decides which targets to focus on or which experts help them verify attribution. Part of the disclosure process also includes: >We also proactively notify law enforcement, our peers, and other relevant state agencies. Does that include foreign countries? Is twitter coordinating with Iran right now to help fight Saudi info campaign? The entire process chain looks US based or at least distorted by US interests. We know US has Psy-Ops, past foreign influence campaigns (Ernest Voice), and Smith–Mundt Modernization Act 2012 legalized domestic dissemination of propaganda. Either US/Allies does not perform influence operations, or Twitter is not looking hard enough, doesn't want to look or can't disclose. People can judge which options is more likely for themselves.

shaki-dora 7y ago

Today's data concerns Saudi Arabia, somewhat contradicting your theory.

dirtyid 7y ago
Somewhat, though I think Saudi and probably Israel is the perennial controversial ally valley kids have no problem shitting on. Which leads me to question who decides which targets to focus on or which experts help them verify attribution. Part of the disclosure process also includes: >We also proactively notify law enforcement, our peers, and other relevant state agencies. Does that include foreign countries? Is twitter coordinating with Iran right now to help fight Saudi info campaign? The entire process chain looks US based or at least distorted by US interests. We know US has Psy-Ops, past foreign influence campaigns (Ernest Voice), and Smith–Mundt Modernization Act 2012 legalized domestic dissemination of propaganda. Either US/Allies does not perform influence operations, or Twitter is not looking hard enough, doesn't want to look or can't disclose. People can judge which options is more likely for themselves.