Twitter Executive Is Also A British Army 'Psyops' Soldier (newsweek.com) 43
"The senior Twitter executive with editorial responsibility for the Middle East is also a part-time officer in the British Army's psychological warfare unit," reports Middle East Eye:
The 77th Brigade uses social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as podcasts, data analysis and audience research to wage what the head of the UK military, General Nick Carter, describes as "information warfare". Carter says the 77th Brigade is giving the British military "the capability to compete in the war of narratives at the tactical level"; to shape perceptions of conflict. Some soldiers who have served with the unit say they have been engaged in operations intended to change the behaviour of target audiences.
What exactly MacMillan is doing with the unit is difficult to determine, however: he has declined to answer any questions about his role, as has Twitter and the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Responding to the article, the British army told Newsweek their brigade had no relationship with Twitter, "other than using Twitter as one of many social media platforms for engagement and communication." And Twitter reminded Newsweek that "We proactively publish all tweets and accounts relating to state-backed foreign information operations on the service -- regardless of the source. We built this industry-leading archive to promote better public understanding of these threats." Despite the assertions of Twitter and the British military, academics and researchers have said the division between the two is not so clear. David Miller -- a professor of political sociology in the School for Policy Studies at England's University of Bristol, who studies propaganda and public relations efforts concerning the British government -- is one such academic. He told Newsweek he believes a link is there, adding that it was a "threat to our democracy."
"I would say I know a good amount about army propaganda and 'psyops' operations as they're called, but what is interesting is how little information we have 77th Brigade," he said." I suppose it means that all their work is covert, but what I would like to know is what they exactly are they doing? Are they just tracking accounts or are they trying to influence people's views? What we do know is that their account itself is hidden by Twitter so we assume they are trying to influence people under the operatives' own names. And because we know so little about exactly what they're doing, we have to look elsewhere for clues for example.
The professor also argues that Twitter is deceiving us by "not acting as transparently as it could. If they are working with army personnel in this way, it is extremely damaging to our democracy. Given Twitter's closure of accounts alleged to be used by foreign governments, it's a very hypocritical stance of Twitter to take."
What exactly MacMillan is doing with the unit is difficult to determine, however: he has declined to answer any questions about his role, as has Twitter and the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Responding to the article, the British army told Newsweek their brigade had no relationship with Twitter, "other than using Twitter as one of many social media platforms for engagement and communication." And Twitter reminded Newsweek that "We proactively publish all tweets and accounts relating to state-backed foreign information operations on the service -- regardless of the source. We built this industry-leading archive to promote better public understanding of these threats." Despite the assertions of Twitter and the British military, academics and researchers have said the division between the two is not so clear. David Miller -- a professor of political sociology in the School for Policy Studies at England's University of Bristol, who studies propaganda and public relations efforts concerning the British government -- is one such academic. He told Newsweek he believes a link is there, adding that it was a "threat to our democracy."
"I would say I know a good amount about army propaganda and 'psyops' operations as they're called, but what is interesting is how little information we have 77th Brigade," he said." I suppose it means that all their work is covert, but what I would like to know is what they exactly are they doing? Are they just tracking accounts or are they trying to influence people's views? What we do know is that their account itself is hidden by Twitter so we assume they are trying to influence people under the operatives' own names. And because we know so little about exactly what they're doing, we have to look elsewhere for clues for example.
The professor also argues that Twitter is deceiving us by "not acting as transparently as it could. If they are working with army personnel in this way, it is extremely damaging to our democracy. Given Twitter's closure of accounts alleged to be used by foreign governments, it's a very hypocritical stance of Twitter to take."
Russia influenced the 2016 elections? (Score:2, Insightful)
More likely the UK and the 77th Brigade!
And what's up with all these former CIA [politico.com] and FBI agents getting jobs at CNN [washingtonpost.com]? Nothing suspicious about that...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: Russia influenced the 2016 elections? (Score:2)
Well I am pretty biased here, but anything that links psyops, and what I refer to as Groupthink, becomes highly suspicious.
I dont trust twitter.
I dont trust facebook
I dont trust google
They all operate on the idea that people will side with what they _think_ most people agree with. That metric is COMPLETELY editable. They are sheep and these people are exploiting assholes. Off with all their heads.
Re: (Score:2)
Makes sense that all this can be traced back to America's oldest enemy [fandom.com].
A Reservist (Score:1)
He is a reservist in a Territorial Army unit [army.mod.uk], not the other way around.
If he was a Surgeon in civilian life, his assignment would be a medical unit, a truck driver to logistics unit.
In my book this is a smart placement, given the proven use of Maskaroka by Putin and widespread disinformation by middle-eastern based terrorists.
What is Maskirovka?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
If he is a reservist, that should meant he has the training for his specialization and he probably needs to go to exercises regularly. This does not invalidate the implications in any way.
I am surprised this connection got found out an published though. That may be the one indicator that he is not actually being used in his military capacity. But, as I said, he should still have the skills and he may just use them in service to a different master.
Re: (Score:2)
And you are also Psyops, I take it?
Nice try, psyops bot. ;) (Score:2)
Quit being so damn obvious.
You sould like a "all is well" junkie in denial.
The concept that an intelligence agency, half whose job is to manipulate information, would not so such things, is as ridiculous as rhe time cube conspiracy theory. If anything, it only make you sould like a troll.
The world is full of manipulative psychos. Sorry. Deal with it.
"Kill Switch" (Score:5, Interesting)
Reminds me quite a bit of "Kill Switch" by William Hertling, his latest near-future thriller centered around a social internet platform (albeit a distinctly privacy-centered one) that's kept under surveillance and is infiltrated by military and police intelligence. (Just on a side note – for reading some of his books, it helps being a programmer, as he is one himself and sometimes it shows.)
Is Also A British Army 'Psyops' Solider (Score:2)
And dyslexic on top.
Re: (Score:2)
Do tell. And how would you spell that word?
Re: (Score:3)
Do tell. And how would you spell that word?
DevOps.
Re: (Score:3)
It's more style than a spelling issue, but "more solid" just sounds better.
Re: (Score:2)
Solder? Slider?
Re: (Score:2)
What's xyldesic?
Soldier (Score:3)
Not solider, you insensitive cold!
Re:Soldier (Score:4, Funny)
Original article was obviously written by one of those Gamma Quadrant changelings, ranting about those untrustworthy Solids again.
Re: (Score:2)
Responsibility (Score:3)
I checked the article (waste of time as expected) but I'm still not clear what "Twitter executive with editorial responsibility" is supposed to mean. Twitter is editorializing? And are we supposed to be outraged that the British Army has infiltrated Twitter or that Twitter has infiltrated the British Army?
All I know for sure is someone's regular employer gave them part-time work and they had to work two jobs, which I sympathize with.
Re: (Score:3)
You're supposed to be outraged at the fact that somebody that's lying for a living (psy ops, if lying is too big of a world... let's do "manipulating"), is also at a high position in a company that
Re: (Score:2)
You do not want government psy ops agencies "editorializing" anything
You do not want Twitter executives editorializing anything either.
Re: GOVERNMENTS NEED TO GET INVOLVED!!! (Score:2)
Thank you, Comrade Wang, for that original and insightful post. Your Social Credit Score had increased by 0.05 points. Keep up the good work!
Just stop (Score:2, Insightful)
If this professor is such an expert on psychological operations, he'd understand that it doesn't take being an executive on Twitter to manipulate people through Twitter.
Further, if our democracy is dependent on Twitter as his "threat to democracy" hyperbole implies...well we're pretty roundly fucked already.
Re: (Score:1)
If this professor is such an expert on psychological operations, he'd understand that it doesn't take being an executive on Twitter to manipulate people through Twitter.
Further, if our democracy is dependent on Twitter as his "threat to democracy" hyperbole implies...well we're pretty roundly fucked already.
I think the Prof is bigging themselves up a bit here. Sounds pretty average TA stuff
Found the anticonspiracy theorist! (Score:2)
You sound like a conspiracy theorist.
Put on your night cap again. The NSA leaks also "never happened* because "it can't be" because you can't handle it. You can keep sleeping well. The world is a good place with only nice people. /s
Re: (Score:2)
Congratulations.
After all these years of youtube comments and reddit, it's not easy to reach a new level of dumb in a single post.
Cue the blackeyers in denial. (Score:3)
With their anticonspiracy theorist mantra: "It can't be because I can't handle it!!"
Which is equivalent to the mantra of classic conspiracy theorists: "It must be because I can't handle it otherwise!!"
Just with the opposite polarity. And being more popular with the masses that consider themselves more sane, of course.
Not to defend this but... (Score:2)
All governments lie. (Score:4, Interesting)
"All governments lie." -- I.F. Stone
We shouldn't be surprised that our national intelligence agencies are keen to control what information we see & how it's framed. For example in the UK, MI5 have had agents &/or informants in the editorial offices of every major British publisher, usually in senior positions, since WWI. I doubt there are many professional editors who aren't aware of this. We've all seen what happens when publishers go outside the bounds of what MI5 deems as acceptable, e.g. Wikileaks. The British security services are more than happy to implicitly threaten bankruptcy on any publisher who displeases them.
Why do you think they'd treat internet publishers any differently?
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Oh,not much evolution then in the last century
Twitter Should be Free to do what it Wants! (Score:2)
You know, because it's private enterprise.
While in reality Twitter, Facebook et al simply implement government policies, or elite policies anyway. Macmillan joined Twitter three years ago.
Suspiciously specific denial (Score:2)
"Twitter is an open, neutral, and independent service," a spokesperson for Twitter said to Newsweek. "We do not allow our data services to be used for surveillance purposes or in any other manner inconsistent with people's expectation of privacy. Employees who pursue external volunteer opportunities are encouraged to do so in line with company policy."
I don't know about anyone else, but when I hear that an officer involved in propaganda is a Twitter executive, my first thought isn't about surveillance, it's use of the service for propaganda. This denial comes across as suspiciously specific.
Renault (Score:2)
This shocks me as much as gambling in Casablanca.
Captain MacMillan? (Score:1)
Is this MacMillan the one who was in 1998 in Pripyat' with lieutenant Price on a mission to shoot Imran Zakhaev?
Media Beat-up (Score:2)
The good professor is trying to create a media storm about a Twitter employee who happens to be a part-time Army Officer.
Someone whose involvement extends to a few weekends per year and a yearly exercise : most of which will consist of pissed in an Officers Mess.
There is absolutely zero, hee-haw and buckleys chance of the Army talking about 77th Brigade in any detail. Anyone who does will find themselves being hammered into the ground by the Official Secrets Act : a piece of legislation which is specificall
Even worse ... (Score:2)
...the host of The Gong Show was a CIA assassin.