Vietnam Admits Deploying Bloggers

New submitter jespada writes "BBC News reports the Vietnamese Communist Party is approaching its internet image in a more sophisticated manner by hiring shill bloggers to argue its case. From the article: 'Hanoi Propaganda and Education Department head Ho Quang Loi said that the authorities had hired hundreds of so-called "internet polemists" in the fight against "online hostile forces." While the exact number of these activists is unknown, Mr Loi revealed that his organisation is running at least 400 online accounts and 20 microblogs. Regular visitors on popular social media networks in Vietnam such as Facebook have long noticed the existence of a number of pro-regime bloggers, who frequently post comments and articles supportive of the Communist Party. The bloggers also take part in online discussions, where they fiercely attack anybody who they see as critical of the regime.'"

Comments

Communists and Corporation Have This in Common

[cervesaebraciator]

If you have spare time, go to the Wikipedia page of your favorite (however defined) corporation. Click "View history". Find the top five contributors and do a WHOIS on their IPs. Now, compare this to the locations of offices owned by your favorite corporation. It can be rather entertaining.

USSR did it first

[Anonymous Coward]

Back in 30's and 40's, a lot of US artists were in the payroll of the Stalin's KGB.

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Star-Over-Hollywood-Colonys/dp/1594031460/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Party-Communism-American-Industry/dp/0761513760/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Later, the same tactics took place, but then operated by other communist countries. CIA had its artists too, but in much less number and budget.

Re:Vietnam is certainly ***NOT*** alone !!

[Mashiki]

Yeah. All one has to do is look at Obama's "truth teams" for the glorious insight into how that's working.