New report on Russian disinformation, prepared for the Senate, shows the operation's scale and sweep

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



The report, a draft of which was obtained by The Washington Post, is the first to study the millions of posts provided by major technology firms to the Senate Intelligence Committee

By Craig Timberg and Tony Romm December 16 at 4:29 PM

A report prepared for the Senate that provides the most sweeping analysis yet of Russia’s disinformation campaign around the 2016 election found the operation used every major social media platform to deliver words, images and videos tailored to voters’ interests to help elect President Trump -- and worked even harder to support him while in office.

The report, a draft of which was obtained by The Washington Post, is the first to study the millions of posts provided by major technology firms to the Senate Intelligence Committee, led by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), its chairman, and Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), its ranking Democrat. The bipartisan panel hasn’t said if it endorses the findings. It plans to release it publicly along with another study later this week.

The research -- by Oxford University’s Computational Propaganda Project and Graphika, a network analysis firm -- offers new details on how Russians working at the Internet Research Agency, which U.S. officials have charged with criminal offenses for meddling in the 2016 campaign, sliced Americans into key interest groups for the purpose of targeting messages. These efforts shifted over time, peaking at key political moments, such as presidential debates or party conventions, the report found.

The data sets used by the researchers were provided by Facebook, Twitter and Google and covered several years up to mid-2017, when the social media companies cracked down on the known Russian accounts. The report, which also analyzed data separately provided to House intelligence committee members, contains no information on more recent political moments, such as November’s midterm election.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/16/new-report-russian-disinformation-prepared-senate-shows-operations-scale-sweep/

[C_U_L8R]

1. How many Republicans are on the Russian payroll?

I never imagined we'd ever have real traitors among us... much less holding office.

[lagomorph777]

6. All of them (all those who haven't been driven out).

We know one major funding stream is through Mariia Butina and her NRA. More subverted "conservative" organizations will be uncovered as investigations proceed.

[dalton99a]

2. "All of the messaging clearly sought to benefit the Republican Party and specifically Donald Trump"

“What is clear is that all of the messaging clearly sought to benefit the Republican Party -- and specifically Donald Trump,” the report says. “Trump is mentioned most in campaigns targeting conservatives and right-wing voters, where the messaging encouraged these groups to support his campaign. The main groups that could challenge Trump were then provided messaging that sought to confuse, distract and ultimately discourage members from voting.”

The Russians aimed particular energy at activating conservatives on issues such as gun rights and immigration, while sapping the political clout of left-leaning African American voters by undermining their faith in elections and spreading misleading information about how to vote. Many other groups -- Latinos, Muslims, Christians, gay men and women, liberals, Southerners, veterans -- got at least some attention from Russians operating thousands of social media accounts.

Facebook was particularly effective at targeting conservatives and African Americans, the report found. More than 99 percent of all engagement -- meaning likes, shares and other reactions -- came from 20 “Pages” controlled by the IRA, including “Being Patriotic,” “Heart of Texas,” “Blacktivist” and “Army of Jesus.”

Together, the 20 most popular pages generated 39 million likes, 31 million shares, 5.4 million reactions and 3.4 million comments. Company officials told Congress that the Russian campaign reached 126 million people on Facebook and 20 million more on Instagram.

[Apollyonus]

8. This is so scary .. I hope it is shut down for 2020

[ehrnst]

3. The ones who didn't fall for it - HRC supporters. (nt)

[Achilleaze]

4. The republicans did nothing to protect or defend America

They let it happen. With their hands out. The republicans sold out America, American democracy, and America's global leadership status. They sold us out for cash and caviar.

&f=1

[lagomorph777]

7. They didn't "let it happen." They are actve and eager co-conspirators.

[Pepsidog]

5. They scrambled Republicans brains to the point that they are zombies.

[FakeNoose]

9. I think only a few really understood what was being done on social media

... most of them were already zombie-fied and didn't know what was happening. People like Steve Bannon, sure he knew because he was directing it.

[BigmanPigman]

10. "Russia ia still doing it and they have become more sophisticated",

a Wash Post reporter told CNN today. Of course they are and will. Why should they stop, it works! Our country hasn't done much to stop them (thanks GOP). People may not vote at all if states like FL, GA, MI and WI get away with stealing and cheating to get elected is the norm. If they feel that their votes may be twisted they may not vote in 2020...which is too soon for voting and social media propaganda to be really protected from the GOP/Russia.

[dalton99a]

11. +1. We are under attack, and Republicans are not lifting a finger

[mickswalkabout41]

12. So know they know how it's done

I doubt they will do anything at all except now they can use these tactics in the future.

[Scurrilous]

13. ...