Russia's Former KGB Invests In Political Propaganda Spambots

An anonymous reader writes "The newspaper Kommersant reports that the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (formerly part of the KGB) has invested 30 million roubles (USD $940,000) on 'blog and social network intelligence' programs (Google translation of Russian original). A small part of that money is used for surveillance and analytics, but 22 million roubles (USD $690,000) is invested in 'mass distribution of messages in social networks with a view to the formation of public opinion.' Which presumably can be rephrased as 'launching massive pro-Kremlin astroturfing propaganda spambots in order to stifle and undermine political dissent.' The brazen Russian government acknowledgement of this investment indicates that the Kremlin does not think of such activities to be in any way illegal or unethical. No words whether these spambots would respect any anti-spam laws or the Terms and Conditions of victim websites. But hey, now you can accuse anyone you disagree with online of being a 'KGB bot'!"

Obligatory Yakov...

[beaverdownunder]

In Putin's Russia, Twitter Updates You...

Re:Obligatory Yakov...

[Mashiki]

Perhaps...but I also think that...

In Putin's Russia, Spam eats you.

Re:The US has an AI tht does this

[ohnocitizen]

I must strongly disagree. In my analysis, strong AI doesn't exist outside of science fiction novellas, and thus furthermore and therefore is a ridiculous accusation to make. I urge you my dear and wonderful readers, to ignore the implausible and outlandish statements made by the anonymous coward in the parent comment. Every nuance of his or her preposterous claims only further their own inherent absurdity.

Re:The US has an AI tht does this

[bmo]

the US uses a strong AI

Only for the voices in your head.

--
BMO

Introducing the Yakov Entendre

[neoshroom]

In America, Facebook shares tank. In Russia, tank shares Facebook.
__

Agreement, Accord & Concordance

[neoshroom]

In my analysis, strong AI doesn't exist outside of science fiction novellas, and thus furthermore and therefore is a ridiculous accusation to make.

The way you write makes me want to punch you. " thus furthermore and therefore", really?

I agree with you, yours, yourself and those who bear a yoursimilitude to you. The above poster, writer, author of the comment referred to, listed and discussed has undercut, severed and bisected his own cogent word assembly through unnecessarily, avoidable and inessential verbal repetition. And while hyperbole was the purpose, object and function of the conjunctions, and I can understand feeling frustrated, angry or annoyed, I feel that physical violence is an inappropriate, disproportional and incongruous conclusion, ceasing, cessation, close, closure, completion, consequence, culmination, desistance, ending, finale, finish, issue, outcome, result, and end.

Re:Illegal ?? Unethical ??

[beerbear]

That sounds like something a KGB bot would say!