Tumblr Takes Down 84 Russia-Linked Accounts (thehill.com)

On Friday, Tumblr said it has taken down 84 accounts used by Russia to spread disinformation ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The accounts were reportedly linked to the Russian troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency. The Hill reports: Special counsel Robert Mueller last month indicted 13 Russians and three Russian entities associated with the Internet Research Agency who are accused of orchestrating an elaborate plot to spread divisive messages to U.S. audiences on social media ahead of the election. The individuals face multiple charges, including identity theft and bank fraud. Tumblr said in a statement Friday that it provided information on the 84 Russia-linked accounts from its investigation to the Justice Department. Tumblr said the Russia-linked accounts were solely focused on spreading disinformation by posting "organic content." The company found no indication that the accounts purchased any advertisements. The platform says it will notify any users who interacted with the accounts and provide them with a list of usernames they engaged with. Tumblr also disclosed that it will keep a public record of usernames linked to the Internet Research Agency or other state-sponsored disinformation efforts for the sake of transparency.

Comments

State-Sponsored Accounts?

[GlennC]

So when Tumblr says that

  "...it will keep a public record of usernames linked to the Internet Research Agency or other state-sponsored disinformation efforts",

does that include those used by the FBI, NSA, and/or CIA, or is it just those evil foreigners?

Re:84?

[AmiMoJo]

This is like asking how Trump's Twitter account can have any influence or power at all when it's just one single account out of 330 million active users.

These accounts are just entry points for fake news, memes and propaganda. What matters is not how many there are, but how far their messages spread and the influence they had. The number of accounts tells you nothing.

That's why social media is such a powerful tool. That's why Russia uses it. That's why western governments use it too - don't forget that the original leak about this stuff was from GCHQ. If you think it has no effect you are just opening yourself and your country up to manipulation by anyone who understands it.