Internet Posters For Hire?

[August1991]

You may have seen the fake craigslist/calgary ad soliciting CVs from people who would be hired to post right-wing commentary on forums (such as this one) or as comments to news articles.

So Justin Trudeau waded into the topic, suggesting that even if the ad is fake, he's convinced the Conservatives are doing something similar:

Que l'annonce soit authentique ou pas, Justin Trudeau est convaincu que le Parti conservateur utilise ces tactiques. «On sait depuis longtemps que le Parti conservateur encourage ses jeunes bénévoles, fanatiques et militants, à s'éparpiller sur les sites de nouvelles, à poster des commentaires, à contrarier, à engager le débat. [...] C'est assez aligné avec la façon dont les conservateurs semblent agir dans les médias sociaux.» Le candidat libéral déplore cette pratique. «La différence entre la publicité négative et ces commentateurs, c'est que les commentateurs font semblant d'être simplement des citoyens engagés.»

La Presse

I don't think anyone would object to individual party members posting anonymous comments on the Internet. For some reason, they might object to parties paying people to do this. For one thing, this expense would fall within campaign spending restrictions.

But this becomes less obvious if a third-party were to hire people to place these comments, or merely provide computers and an Internet connection. It is on this point that Harper and the NCC ran afoul of Elections Canada which claimed that it could not run ads during an election campaign.

Anyway, the news aggregator www.bourque.org has a reputation for selling itself to the highest bidder. The nuclear lobby bought space a while ago and bourque often ran links to nuclear energy stories. In the past few weeks, bourque has been running anti-Harper links and pro-Liberal links. So the question is: Will the federal Liberal Party claim paying Bourque as part of its election expenses?

[Shakeyhands]

I have no doubt that this is occuring. Take a look at the comment sections in any of the National dailys, they are awash in righ wing commentary, all spouting the main talking points of the right. Is this a case of someone volunteering in an organized fashion? Well, not totally convinced, but it does make one wonder.

[punked]

You may have seen the fake craigslist/calgary ad soliciting CVs from people who would be hired to post right-wing commentary on forums (such as this one) or as comments to news articles.

So Justin Trudeau waded into the topic, suggesting that even if the ad is fake, he's convinced the Conservatives are doing something similar:La Presse

I don't think anyone would object to individual party members posting anonymous comments on the Internet. For some reason, they might object to parties paying people to do this. For one thing, this expense would fall within campaign spending restrictions.

But this becomes less obvious if a third-party were to hire people to place these comments, or merely provide computers and an Internet connection. It is on this point that Harper and the NCC ran afoul of Elections Canada which claimed that it could not run ads during an election campaign.

Anyway, the news aggregator www.bourque.org has a reputation for selling itself to the highest bidder. The nuclear lobby bought space a while ago and bourque often ran links to nuclear energy stories. In the past few weeks, bourque has been running anti-Harper links and pro-Liberal links. So the question is: Will the federal Liberal Party claim paying Bourque as part of its election expenses?

I think Shady and I have posted enough videos of this US style politics to see this one is a set up. It is a James O'Keefe hit job. I know the Conservatives haven't been the best government but they have more then half a brain. I am sure they do this but they don't post "help wanted adds" for their craig's list. This is gutter politics which is a large part of the extremist politics in the US it has no place in Canada. Unless someone has real proof it is a hit job on the conservatives.

[kimmy]

I have no doubt that this is occuring. Take a look at the comment sections in any of the National dailys, they are awash in righ wing commentary, all spouting the main talking points of the right. Is this a case of someone volunteering in an organized fashion? Well, not totally convinced, but it does make one wonder.

There's been at least a few cases of campaign workers or employees being caught writing to newspapers, phoning radio shows, or in one incident, even being interviewed in a "man on the street" segment, without disclosing their affiliation.

This is one particularly egregious incident from a few years back...

We have also had incidents on this forum where new members have signed up and posted almost identical messages to each other within a few days. Not hard to imagine how something like that might happen. I recall this happening when "the Coalition", 2008 edition, was taking a beating in the court of public opinion. We had a couple of new members sign up and post nearly identical messages where they explained why the coalition was actually great for democracy. hmmm.

Now, no doubt these are real human beings who actually do support the party that they're expressing their support for. So ... is there an issue? Are they really "astroturf" if they're sincere in their convictions?

-k

Edited March 31, 2011 by kimmy

[bush_cheney2004]

..... This is gutter politics which is a large part of the extremist politics in the US it has no place in Canada. Unless someone has real proof it is a hit job on the conservatives.

Then why post this "in Canada"? Doesn't Canada have any gutters?

[M.Dancer]

Isn't babble owned and run by radical NDPers?

[punked]

Isn't babble owned and run by radical NDPers?

When have they ever pretended to be anything else?

[Bonam]

I have no doubt that this is occuring. Take a look at the comment sections in any of the National dailys, they are awash in righ wing commentary, all spouting the main talking points of the right. Is this a case of someone volunteering in an organized fashion? Well, not totally convinced, but it does make one wonder.

The same can be seen with left wing commentary. It's unfortunate, but of course now that forums, blog comments, etc, are becoming a more and more widely read form of media, people will begin to propagandize in them.

[GostHacked]

Then why post this "in Canada"? Doesn't Canada have any gutters?

We had 'Joe the plumber' take care of that.

[M.Dancer]

When have they ever pretended to be anything else?

They pretend to be rational don't they?

[ToadBrother]

The same can be seen with left wing commentary. It's unfortunate, but of course now that forums, blog comments, etc, are becoming a more and more widely read form of media, people will begin to propagandize in them.

It's just a variation on an age-old trick. Dishonest and dishonorable, and so, naturally, how many campaigns conduct themselves.

[scribblet]

Interesting, so how do we know that this fake ad wasn't placed by a Liberal campaign worker, but in this new age of cyberspace and social media what is wrong with the concept, as long it is declared campaign spending.

Most of the people posting on here are partisans, they support one party or another posting on here to give their points of view, same with commentary. If we see something that is wrong or we plain just disagree with it, what's wrong with commenting on it. Actually, as much of the campaign is now done on line IMO it's a darned good idea to have people posting and rebutting, why not have campaign workers post, it's all part of it, the only issue is if they are being paid during a campaign, then it would be part of the declared expenses. I'm surprised that the parties are not employing this method of getting the message out.

Edited March 31, 2011 by scribblet

[Battletoads]

I have no doubt that this is occuring. Take a look at the comment sections in any of the National dailys, they are awash in righ wing commentary, all spouting the main talking points of the right. Is this a case of someone volunteering in an organized fashion? Well, not totally convinced, but it does make one wonder.

Probably not paid, the right just parrots whatever their leaders say. Original and creative thinking are rare gifts to find in right wingers.

[scribblet]

Probably not paid, the right just parrots whatever their leaders say. Original and creative thinking are rare gifts to find in right wingers.

I doubt they are paid also, but reading other commentary from theleft just parrots whatever their leaders, say, original and creative thinking are rare gifts to find in left wingers.

[Battletoads]

I doubt they are paid also, but reading other commentary from theleft just parrots whatever their leaders, say, original and creative thinking are rare gifts to find in left wingers.

As I said, creative and original thinking is rare in the right.

[Shwa]

As I said, creative and original thinking is rare in the right.

ZING!

[scribblet]

As I said, creative and original thinking is rare in the right.

Sure, but nothing like having your own spin thrown back at ya LOL

[Saipan]

So Justin Trudeau waded into the topic, suggesting that even if the ad is fake, he's convinced the Conservatives are doing something similar

He should heed his father's words: "Put up or shut up"

[Scotty]

I have no doubt that this is occuring. Take a look at the comment sections in any of the National dailys, they are awash in righ wing commentary, all spouting the main talking points of the right.

Read the comments in the Globe and Mail or CBC or Star some day. You won't find much right wing in any of them. Mostly you'll find rabid left wing commentary.

[Shakeyhands]

Read the comments in the Globe and Mail or CBC or Star some day. You won't find much right wing in any of them. Mostly you'll find rabid left wing commentary.

You just proved to me that you don't read the comments section.

[jbg]

There's a formerly prolific poster on here that I'm convinced was an LPC plant. He quit a while ago.

[August1991]

Actually, as much of the campaign is now done on line IMO it's a darned good idea to have people posting and rebutting, why not have campaign workers post, it's all part of it, the only issue is if they are being paid during a campaign, then it would be part of the declared expenses.

Paid? I suppose. But I also think that we're in a Brave New World.

Reputation is key. And people born after 1945 or so do not well understand this idea of reputation. People born before 1945 understand reputation better.

Read the comments in the Globe and Mail or CBC or Star some day. You won't find much right wing in any of them. Mostly you'll find rabid left wing commentary.

I agree. It's disconcerting because it's so Leftist, and the "debates" are also one liner "Thumbs Up" or "Thumb Down".

There's a formerly prolific poster on here that I'm convinced was an LPC plant. He quit a while ago.

He was no plant. He was the genuine article. J Dobbin was a Liberal and based on his posts here, a very decent person.

[blueblood]

Paid? I suppose. But I also think that we're in a Brave New World.

Reputation is key. And people born after 1945 or so do not well understand this idea of reputation. People born before 1945 understand reputation better.

I agree. It's disconcerting because it's so Leftist, and the "debates" are also one liner "Thumbs Up" or "Thumb Down".

He was no plant. He was the genuine article. J Dobbin was a Liberal and based on his posts here, a very decent person.

I agree jdobbin was legit. He was clear he was a member and knew some of their going ons. I for one would be curious to know his thoughts on the current state of the LPC because if I remember correctly he was concerned about the LPCs viability when dion was party leader.

[WIP]

Found it!

There's no need to pay idiots money to post crap all over the place when it can be done more quickly and efficiently by a machine:

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media Military's 'sock puppet' software creates fake online identities to spread pro-American propaganda

The US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media sites by using fake online personas to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.

A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US armed operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one US serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities based all over the world.

The project has been likened by web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet. Critics are likely to complain that it will allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations, crowd out unwelcome opinions and smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives.

The discovery that the US military is developing false online personalities – known to users of social media as "sock puppets" – could also encourage other governments, private companies and non-government organisations to do the same.

[Shwa]

Found it!

There's no need to pay idiots money to post crap all over the place when it can be done more quickly and efficiently by a machine:

Revealed: US spy operation that manipulates social media Military's 'sock puppet' software creates fake online identities to spread pro-American propaganda

The US military is developing software that will let it secretly manipulate social media sites by using fake online personas to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.

A Californian corporation has been awarded a contract with United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US armed operations in the Middle East and Central Asia, to develop what is described as an "online persona management service" that will allow one US serviceman or woman to control up to 10 separate identities based all over the world.

The project has been likened by web experts to China's attempts to control and restrict free speech on the internet. Critics are likely to complain that it will allow the US military to create a false consensus in online conversations, crowd out unwelcome opinions and smother commentaries or reports that do not correspond with its own objectives.

The discovery that the US military is developing false online personalities – known to users of social media as "sock puppets" – could also encourage other governments, private companies and non-government organisations to do the same.

"...to develop..."

No doubt the "beta" version has been out there for quite some time. I wonder if they gave 'er a test in Tunisia or Egypt...