America's spies are now using social media.
The Guardian tells us that US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media using fake online personas designed to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda. A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with the US Central Command (Centcom) to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities at once. The contract stipulates each persona must have a convincing background, history and supporting details, and that up to 50 controllers must be able to operate false identities from their workstations.
The Guardian says this could allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations and simply smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives.
The truly frightening part? What would happen if other governments, private companies and non-government organizations started doing the same thing.
The Guardian's Jeff Jarvis says it would be funny if it wasn't so sad. "In the meantime, I think we can agree that it's sad to see the US government taming the power of the net to stoop to the morals of a clumsy Nigerian spammer."
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