4 Darknesses: Internet being Manipulated, Deceived by Western Intel Trolls by Juan Cole

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/02/25-1


GCHQ slide, part of a psy-ops presentation regarding covert intelligence operatives infiltrate online communities. (via First Look Media)

Researchers on online behavior have shown that internet trolls (people who use insincere techniques to disrupt conversations) really are psychopaths, marked by narcisssism, sadism, Machiavellianism. Professors Eric Buckels, Paul Trapnell, and Delroy Paulhus administered surveys to students and found that about 6 percent of them enjoyed messing with other people’s heads on the internet, or trolling. This same group scored high on the four most vicious personality traits, known as the dark tetrad. They agreed when asked questions like this:

I have been compared to famous people (narcissism)

It’s not wise to tell your secrets (Machiavellianism)

Payback needs to be quick and nasty (psychopathy)

Hurting people is exciting (sadism)

In video games, I like the realistic blood sports (vicarious sadism)

Now it turns out that Western intelligence agencies who say that they are fighting al-Qaeda are actually spending time trolling the internet, displaying all the same Dark Tetrad characteristics. Their victims include “hacktivists,” but note that they are targeting these individuals on suspicion of hacking and that the persons targeted have not been convicted of any crime.

Glenn Greenwald at Firstlook reveals the powerpoint slides used by British intelligence (GCHQ) to train its operatives in how to deceive Western publics. It must also be underlined that we simply don’t know who exactly is targeted in cyberspace in this way or why. Some anti-war activists, e.g., may be among the victims.

[Blue_Tires]

1. infiltrating online communities is a big part of corporate PR

and election campaign shenanigans as well...

[Egalitarian Thug]

2. Slowly, too slowly, people are beginning to tip to what's being done to them. n/t

& R #5

[jsr]

3. Recommend