Social networking is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social relations among people. If you like to use social networks like Facebook and Twitter, you already know that you will sometimes get a friend request from someone you may not know and that nobody else you know is in contact with. Many times it is some marketing scam that you just ignore. On some occasions, it is a hacker who got into a friend's account and is trying to hack further. In the Buzz Out Loud Podcast 1429: Spies on Facebook? Yes, it’s true, the hosts, Molly Wood, Brian Tong, and Steven Beechum, talk for a few minutes about how the US military is planning on using software that is used to create fake online personas to manipulate social media, which are called “sock puppets”. “Welcome to the next generation spy,” says Brian Tong that will use only the internet for this purpose. This operation will allow the US to spread more pro-American propaganda in other countries by using these “sock puppets” to influence internet conversations. It is said that the U.S. military’s main objective for developing this program is to be “the first with the truth”. The U.S. military is implementing this program, which is said to be part of Centcom’s “Operation Earnest Voice”, in hopes to prevent any recruiting or training of suicide bombers, keep enemies from having any safe havens, and respond quicker to terrorists ideology and propaganda. These fake profiles will make it look like the servicemen and woman operating the persona belong to their social network region or area that they are targeting so that the “sock puppets” will be more likely to be accepted by the person they are trying to influence. Bill Speaks, spokesman Commander for Centcom, did, however, express that this program is not going to be used to target any English-based social media websites, like Twitter or Facebook. Nevertheless, this operation could potentially cause the military persona management to face legal challenges if it somehow turns against U.S. citizens. It is illegal for anyone in the United States to pretend to be someone they are not, and there have already been a number of people prosecuted for sock puppetry. Hopefully the military has not opened up a can of worms by making this operation public. Although it is illegal to pretend to be someone you are not by making a fake profile, people should still be cautious with who they add on Facebook and Twitter. You should never trust anyone on Facebook or Twitter you do not know personally because it could be a hacker, con artist, or even the government.
If you would like to learn more about this military operation you can visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks
http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/posture-statement/
If you would like to learn more about this military operation you can visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-operation-social-networks
http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/posture-statement/
The subject of “sock puppets” is an interesting one. It is very surprising that the military would allow this particular “tool” to be made public. Unfortunately spying by individuals is something that is here to stay. The internet has made spying something that is fairly easy to do by many people. The armed forces must do whatever is necessary to keep our country safe. If this proves to be a method that is useful for protection, then perhaps it will be worth it. Where this particular tool leads to is anyone’s guess. This subject has the potential to cause controversy among individuals. Some in our group believes this is just a type of American propaganda that will be used to spy on Americans. Some believe that there should be other ways to prevent the recruitment and training of terrorists. Others believe that if this is a tool being used by the military; it should have not been made public. The most important concept that you stated in your blog, is that individuals must be cautious about revealing personal information and making friends with unknown individuals.
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ReplyDeleteHowever, some military activities would not be condoned in domestic life, and yet because these activities are done in an effort to protect U.S. citizens, they are acceptable or necessary. I agree that citizens should be restricted from creating "sock puppets." While there are potential problems with the military creating "sock puppets," I think, overall, it could be very beneficial.
We think it is a great idea by the military to use this "sock puppets" to protect american citizens. The goal in this case is to be able to follow up people without knowing who exactly is following them. Everyone that uses either facebook or twitter has already been asked to accepted some weird friends and sometimes you end up being friends with them. Also, if the person feel that these "sock puppets" are hacking their accounts there is a way to exclude friends, so it would not be a big problem. We think that in general it would be very important. Jordan Greggs, Allison Fletcher, Kristin Childress, Fabio Ribeiro, Lila Doherty.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the use of sock puppets could cause potential problems for the US military and I think they made the mistake by announcing it to the public. Other countries might get word of this, especially the specific ones they are trying to target causing the whole sock puppet idea to fail and create legal challenges as this blog mentioned. The blog pointed out a very good point that no one can be trusted any form of social network and information that is shared should be taken with extreme caution.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where I stand on the issue of "sock puppets". I agree with the blog when it comes to the the question, how do we know that the military will not end up targeting the United States for insights and secrets? I think it is wrong for anyone to pretend to be who they are not, but at the same time I am all for the military doing what is necessary to protect our country and that includes creating a fake identity on a foreign country's social media. At this point all I know is that everyone should be careful and think twice before accepting someone's friend request.
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