[Foundation-l] Guardian: US spy operation that manipulates social media

[Anirudh Bhati]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks

Can we expect a spillover on to the non-English Wikimedia projects?

<quote>

Centcom spokesman Commander Bill Speaks said: "The technology supports
classified blogging activities on foreign-language websites to enable
Centcom to counter violent extremist and enemy propaganda outside the
US."

He said none of the interventions would be in English, as it would be
unlawful to "address US audiences" with such technology, and any
English-language use of social media by Centcom was always clearly
attributed. The languages in which the interventions are conducted
include Arabic, Farsi, Urdu and Pashto.

Once developed, the software could allow US service personnel, working
around the clock in one location, to respond to emerging online
conversations with any number of co-ordinated Facebook messages,
blogposts, tweets, retweets, chatroom posts and other interventions.
Details of the contract suggest this location would be MacDill air
force base near Tampa, Florida, home of US Special Operations Command.

</quote>

Yours sincerely,

Anirudh Bhati

00 91 9328712208
Skype: anirudhsbh