Mr. Putin's house organ the "Internet Research Agency" has had its name splashed all over Washington, D.C. this week. US Congressional hearings questioned representatives of the largest American social media companies and asked pointed questions of these company reps. The concerns reflected evidence that Russyan operatives placed misinformation ads across these platforms to manipulate naive Americans who visit these sites. By spending rubles on the ads, the Russyan operatives were able to effect a variety of influences regarding dividing social issues such as immigration, minority rights, police brutality, liberal politics, conservative sentiments, and voters' concerns on the international role of the US.
Sen. Mark Warner commented that these same social media platforms have facilitated Russyan propaganda and disinformation on a broad scale. For example, the Senator provided evidence that certain ads placed by the Internet Research Agency reached in excess of 140 million viewers. Many of the ads were placed as early as 2009. A considerable number were placed during the summer of 2016 when the US presidential campaign was in full swing. Hillary Clinton Democratic campaign spent over $81 million, but may not have been as effective as the Internet research Agency's own efforts.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook commented that his company does not place profits above his customers. His company came under sharp criticism for promoting fake news, misinformation, and sowing discord among its readers and site visitors.
Mr. Putin must be laughing all the way to the Kremlin each morning as he heads to the office where he can manipulate the levers on his vast enterprise called Russya-with a little help from his friends at the Internet Research Agency, aka Radio Free Russya, or Radio Dictatorship Russya, or Disinformation Radio Russya, or Fake News Media Russya, or Fun Facks From Russya Media.
Hmmmmm.
And what's happening in Crimea besides the takeover of Ukraine property?
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