Russia's Former KGB Invests In Political Propaganda Spambots

An anonymous reader writes "The newspaper Kommersant reports that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (formerly part of the KGB) has invested 30 million roubles (USD $940,000) on 'blog and social network intelligence' programs (Google translation of Russian original). A small part of that money is used for surveillance and analytics, but 22 million roubles (USD $690,000) is invested in 'mass distribution of messages in social networks with a view to the formation of public opinion.' Which presumably can be rephrased as 'launching massive pro-Kremlin astroturfing propaganda spambots in order to stifle and undermine political dissent.' The brazen Russian government acknowledgement of this investment indicates that the Kremlin does not think of such activities to be in any way illegal or unethical. No words whether these spambots would respect any anti-spam laws or the Terms and Conditions of victim websites. But hey, now you can accuse anyone you disagree with online of being a 'KGB bot'!"

Comments

Re:Obligatory Yakov...

[Mashiki]

Perhaps...but I also think that...

In Putin's Russia, Spam eats you.

Re:The US has an AI tht does this

[ohnocitizen]

I must strongly disagree. In my analysis, strong AI doesn't exist outside of science fiction novellas, and thus furthermore and therefore is a ridiculous accusation to make. I urge you my dear and wonderful readers, to ignore the implausible and outlandish statements made by the anonymous coward in the parent comment. Every nuance of his or her preposterous claims only further their own inherent absurdity.

KGB, in 2012?

[yeltski]

Seriously? It's been more than 20 years, how long does it take for you Americans to move on from your Cold War Hollywood production induced knowledge base of the world? Next, you'll find out that CIA spends millions on recruitment and *gasp* pro-WhiteHouse astroturfing propaganda in order to stifle and undermine political dissent.

Link to original story?

[methamorph]

So instead of a link to the original story we get a link to Google translate?

Re:Link to original story?

[ACS Solver]

Link to story: http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2009256

Interesting moments are as follows. There are three projects for which software has been requested. One is for "researching the methods of intelligence in Internet centers and regional segments of social networks", another is for "researching the unofficial methods of management on the Internet", and finally work on "methods for advancing special information in social networks". So essentially, it's figuring out how to make certain information popular on social networks, and figuring out the dynamics and largely emergent social structures within these networks. These are designed to work together, ultimately with the bots capable of "massive dissemination of information in specified social networks using existing user accounts, with the goal of forming the public opinion".

Given that the SVR is behind this, it's likely that the intent, at least originally, is to use this abroad, not within Russia. The article says so and quotes a source saying ex-USSR countries would be the first target. That bit certainly looks realistic given the geopolitical situation there, with Russia essentially being in a state of low-key information warfare versus some former Soviet states.

Re:The US has an AI tht does this

[bmo]

the US uses a strong AI

Only for the voices in your head.

--
BMO

Introducing the Yakov Entendre

[neoshroom]

In America, Facebook shares tank. In Russia, tank shares Facebook.
__

Illegal ?? Unethical ??

[Taco Cowboy]

indicates that the Kremlin does not think of such activities to be in any way illegal or unethical

 
I have to confess that I did feel a little bit queasy reading what Timothy has posted
 
This world that we live in today, where "paid reviews", "forum astroturfing", "blog spamming" and "rabid fanboyism" are been actively encouraged and sponsored by for profit corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe, Apple Inc., - mainly from the Western democracies - any effort in linking Russia to similar "illegal" and/or "unethical" activities is futile
 
It was the West who have fine-tuned activities such as being described in TFA to an art-form, in the first place
 

Re:Illegal ?? Unethical ??

[beerbear]

That sounds like something a KGB bot would say!

Re:Illegal ?? Unethical ??

[jenningsthecat]

This world that we live in today, where "paid reviews", "forum astroturfing", "blog spamming" and "rabid fanboyism" are been actively encouraged and sponsored by for profit corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe, Apple Inc., - mainly from the Western democracies - any effort in linking Russia to similar "illegal" and/or "unethical" activities is futile

if you can't distinguish between private businesses and a government intelligence agency then, my friend, you're a moron.

Is that simple.

if you can't distinguish between private businesses and a government intelligence agency then, my friend, you see things as they really are and haven't drunk the corporate Kool-aid.

FTFY

Re:Illegal ?? Unethical ??

[kilfarsnar]

You know what? Fuck you and your "Blame everything on the West and/or Democracy" attitude. I see you on here all the time posting similar crap, if you spent half your slashdot bitching time reading a history book you wouldn't make such moronic statements. People have been paying people to say crap that isn't strictly true for as long as we've had language and the concept of property ownership. People have been shilling and lying anonymously since the invention of the written word. I'm willing to bet thousands of years ago some guy painted a picture on a cave wall that showed himself defeating three bears with a fucking knife, when in reality he stumbled across a carcass while fucking the chief's daughter in the bushes.

It was the West who have fine-tuned activities such as being described in TFA to an art-form, in the first place

Oh really? We invented propaganda? We fine-tuned its delivery? Do you have some kind of fundamental mental problem which prevents you from knowing anything about the world prior to the 19th century? Because you sure seem to have a pretty fucking poor grasp on reality.

We have, actually. If you're interested you should read up on Walter Lippman and Edward Bernays. They were early advertising/public relations pioneers in the early 20th century. After the success that was had whipping up the public to support WWI, it was realized that public opinion could be shaped by the use of subtle propaganda. As Bernays said in his 1928 book "Propaganda",

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.

We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society.

So as you can see, he was sort of a proto-technocrat. But his techniques worked to guide people into various opinions and mindsets. These techniques, more refined, are used today by just about anyone who wishes to shape the public mind, whether it be towards a particular product or a political viewpoint. In our own government Cass Sunstein, President Obama's Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, has had quite a bit to say about guiding public opinion. From his Wikipedia page:

Sunstein and Vermeule also analyze the practice of recruiting "nongovernmental officials"; they suggest that "government can supply these independent experts with information and perhaps prod them into action from behind the scenes," further warning that "too close a connection will be self-defeating if it is exposed."[25] Sunstein and Vermeule argue that the practice of enlisting non-government officials, "might ensure that credible independent experts offer the rebuttal, rather than government officials themselves. There is a tradeoff between credibility and control, however. The price of credibility is that government cannot be seen to control the independent experts."

So yes, the USA has made great strides in using propaganda. Though they didn't invent it, as you point out. But I'm always glad when these types of stories come out. Because I think it's important for people to understand and realize that this stuff goes on. Most people are unaware that their opinions are not entirely their own.

Agreement, Accord & Concordance

[neoshroom]

In my analysis, strong AI doesn't exist outside of science fiction novellas, and thus furthermore and therefore is a ridiculous accusation to make.

The way you write makes me want to punch you. " thus furthermore and therefore", really?

I agree with you, yours, yourself and those who bear a yoursimilitude to you. The above poster, writer, author of the comment referred to, listed and discussed has undercut, severed and bisected his own cogent word assembly through unnecessarily, avoidable and inessential verbal repetition. And while hyperbole was the purpose, object and function of the conjunctions, and I can understand feeling frustrated, angry or annoyed, I feel that physical violence is an inappropriate, disproportional and incongruous conclusion, ceasing, cessation, close, closure, completion, consequence, culmination, desistance, ending, finale, finish, issue, outcome, result, and end.

Re:just like the US

[jcr]

No, the US government spends vastly more money on this kind of thing. $940K is barely even a rounding error in the federal propaganda budget.

-jcr

Re:just like the US

[Burz]

No, the US government spends vastly more money on this kind of thing. $940K is barely even a rounding error in the federal propaganda budget.

-jcr

Indeed, and we're brazen about it, too.

The difference I see is that Russian news doesn't blatantly lead into news stories with comments like, "The same government that corralled natives away from most of the country and then conducted germ warfare against them...". Or, "The ex-Opium War aggressor today is making news with...". At least not since the USSR.

Americans and other native anglophones of all stripes love them some Russophobia (which is why I'll probably be modded down), and they'll find opportunities to serve it up with just about anything. The only way that Russian characters ever seem to be redeemed on US television shows is if they have emigrated to an anglophone country, or are trying to do so. A Russian who wants to stay a Russian national (or to belong to another non-English speaking country) is portrayed as a villain -- every single time I have viewed.

The west has no need for state propoganda

[SmallFurryCreature]

The western capitalist system has no need for state propaganda. The masses are all to happy to watch, devour no worship the opinions and lifestyles of the 1% who tell them that the 1% deserve to be the top and everyone else has a chance too even if they never ever get even remotely close with their part time burger flipping job.

What am I talking about? Media. Name ONE person in Media who makes less then 100.000 dollars per year. One TV celeb, just ONE! In many ways, Reality TV is a very risky move, showing the non-1% and allowing them to speak? Showing that work is hard and dangerous and it never gets any better? OOPS! Ah but luckily, reality stars get payed big, so soon they are the 1% too.

Public opinion in the West is made on TV and TV makes big money for all involved. Of course they are going to be pro-big money. It is like asking Oprah on how to make it from day to day with just 2 dollars per day for food. She eats ten dollars in a single snack. She hasn't lived the live of her audience in decades.

And she is not alone. Rappers? The ones you know ain't from the hood anymore, they live in guarded mansions and drive in armored cars.

American propaganda is simple, it shows only the lottery winners, 1 lucky winner won 300 million! Watch and admire him and aspire to do the same. Saying tat 300 million people lost a dollar they could have spend better... that would not be such a good ad.

Everyone who you see in America on TV, has made it. What better way to indoctrinate the American Dream.

But hey, why believe me, I am posting on the blogsite of poster boys of the American Dream. After all, they made it, so so could you. Right? It couldn't possibly be that the 1% by definition will always be the 1%? Nah, that is commy thinking. Everyone can be the 1% if they just work hard.