US Gov. Software Creates 'Fake People' on Social Networks to Promote Propaganda

The Examiner ^ | February 18, 2011 | Sean Kerrigan

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The US government is offering private intelligence companies contracts to create software to manage "fake people" on social media sites and create the illusion of consensus on controversial issues.

The contract calls for the development of "Persona Management Software" which would help the user create and manage a variety of distinct fake profiles online. The job listing was discussed in recently leaked emails from the private security firm HBGary after an attack by internet activist last week.

Click here to view the government contract (PDF)

According to the contract, the software would "protect the identity of government agencies" by employing a number of false signals to convince users that the poster is in fact a real person. A single user could manage unique background information and status updates for up to 10 fake people from a single computer.

The software enables the government to shield its identity through a number of different methods including the ability to assign unique IP addresses to each persona and the ability to make it appear as though the user is posting from other locations around the world.

Included in HBGary's leaked emails was a government proposal for the government contract. The document describes how they would 'friend' real people on Facebook as a way to convey government messages. The document reads:

• "Those names can be cross-referenced across Facebook, twitter, MySpace, and other social media services to collect information on each individual. Once enough information is collected this information can be used to gain access to these individuals social circles.
• Even the most restrictive and security conscious of persons can be exploited. Through the targeting and information reconnaissance phase, a person’s hometown and high school will be revealed...

[null and void]

They’ve been creating fake voters for years.

Heck, they even created a fake president!

[Red Badger]

Cyber-astroturf....

[majormaturity]

De-fund this administration.

[PGR88]

and create the illusion of consensus on controversial issues.

that's your gov't at work, folks.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Someday, the entire Interwebs will be composed of government 'bots flaming each other.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I know this is silly, but where in the US Constitution does the federal government get the authority to do something like this?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I’ve often wondered what grudge made Westburros tick. Even most hellfire preachers will tell their audiences “come to Jesus and be saved” and will refrain from speculating upon the particular fate of this or that deceased person. The Westburros behave like they want to be a non-edifying nuisance.

[April Lexington]

Ya know, some of the stone heads I debated on townhall.com probably came from this ginned up group. How Low Can You Go?

HA! They can't find real supporters so they have to make some up...

[adorno]

Well, with a fake citizen in the White House, and fake protesters in Wisconsin, why couldn’t we expect “fake online people”? If you can’t win with real people, invent them, and perhaps the idiots in society will fall for it.

[sthguard]

And what exactly does it consist of now? :-)

[driftdiver]

I’d imagine some of them are here. I bet Willie Green was one of em.

[Texas Fossil]

Twitter was the “only” source of info out of Iran during the elections and subsequent mess. A lot of good young people landed in the slammer or worse after the government finally got “help” from private IT contractors.

Twitter was also useful during the Honduras election crap with Zelaya and “The Won” trying to reinstate that commie. The only reason they ever backed away was they were getting daily slammed for their actions. The Obozo administration is currently continuing to punish those who “flew him the bird” then.

Now Twitter was purchased by Facebook, doubt I will ever be on there again. Should have been there during the mess in Costa Rico recently. Sandanista Commies took an island between the 2 countries and no one did a thing.

I would not agree that Twitter was useless, but in the future, I am not sure.

[cripplecreek]

The 4 minute men go high tech.

[DesertRhino]

The US government crating fake people to create the illusion of mass consensus. Are we allowed yet, to say that we now have a totalitarian government that must be removed? Or is it still that “awkward age”?

[Red Badger]

.......to collect information on each individual.

And the LEFT are the ones doing it, NOT REPUBLICANS!!....

[unixfox]

Fine, then we create fake governmnet employee pages and exploit them.

But wait, we already have a fake president so I guess it wouldn't really matter.

[Texas Fossil]

with a fake citizen in the White House

Very true, and the most frightening part is that all 3 branches of government knew/know. And both Political Parties knew/know. That is the icing on the cake. Traitor Bastards all.....

[Breto]

you know what they say.... never trust anybody over 30kb

[TruthConquers]

The
Left
LOVES
peer
pressure
!!!!!!!

[texmexis best]

I suspect that there are some on this forum. I see some consensus type entries that are so wrong that it beggars description. It’s probably them.