The american army hires trolls/personas

[Delenda Carthago]

Solicitation Number:
RTB220610

Notice Type:
Sources Sought

Synopsis:

Added: Jun 22, 2010 1:42 pm Modified: Jun 22, 2010 2:07 pmTrack Changes

0001- Online Persona Management Service. 50 User Licenses, 10 Personas per user.

Software will allow 10 personas per user, replete with background , history, supporting details, and cyber presences that are technically, culturally and geographacilly consistent. Individual applications will enable an operator to exercise a number of different online persons from the same workstation and without fear of being discovered by sophisticated adversaries. Personas must be able to appear to originate in nearly any part of the world and can interact through conventional online services and social media platforms. The service includes a user friendly application environment to maximize the user's situational awareness by displaying real-time local information.

0002- Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN). 1 each

VPN provides the ability for users to daily and automatically obtain randomly selected IP addresses through which they can access the internet. The daily rotation of the user s IP address prevents compromise during observation of likely or targeted web sites or services, while hiding the existence of the operation. In addition, may provide traffic mixing, blending the user s traffic with traffic from
multitudes of users from outside the organization. This traffic blending provides excellent cover and powerful deniability. Anonymizer Enterprise Chameleon or equal

0003- Static IP Address Management. 50 each

Licence protects the identity of government agencies and enterprise
organizations. Enables organizations to manage their persistent online personas by assigning static IP addresses to each persona. Individuals can perform static impersonations, which allow them to look like the same person over time. Also allows organizations that frequent same site/service often to easily switch IP addresses to look like ordinary users as opposed to one organization. Anonymizer IP Mapper License or equal

0004- Virtual Private Servers, CONUS. 1 each

Provides CONUS or OCONUS points of presence locations that are setup for each customer based on the geographic area of operations the customer is operating within and which allow a customer?s online persona(s) to appear to originate from. Ability to provide virtual private servers that are procured using commercial hosting centers around the world and which are established anonymously. Once procured, the geosite is incorporated into the network and
integrated within the customers environment and ready for use by the customer. Unless specifically designated as shared, locations are dedicated for use by each customer and never shared among other customers. Anonymizer Annual Dedicated CONUS Light Geosite or equal

0005- Virtual Private Servers, OCONUS. 8 Each

Provides CONUS or OCONUS points of presence locations that are setup for each customer based on the geographic area of operations the customer is operating within and which allow a customer's online persona(s) to appear to originate from. Ability to provide virtual private servers that are procured using commercial hosting centers around the world and which are established anonymously. Once procured, the geosite is incorporated into the network and integrated within the customers environment and ready for use by the customer. Unless specifically designated as shared, locations are dedicated for use by each customer and never shared among other customers. Anonymizer Annual Dedicated OCONUS Light Geosite or equal

0006- Remote Access Secure Virtual Private Network. 1 each

Secure Operating Environment provides a reliable and protected computing environment from which to stage and conduct operations. Every session uses a clean Virtual Machine (VM) image. The solution is accessed through sets of Virtual Private Network (VPN) devices located at each Customer facility. The fully-managed VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is an environment that allows users remote access from their desktop into a VM. Upon session termination,
the VM is deleted and any virus, worm, or malicious software that the user inadvertently downloaded is destroyed. Anonymizer Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Solution or equal.

Contracting Office Address:
2606 Brown Pelican Ave.
MacDill AFB, Florida 33621-5000
United States
Place of Performance:
Performance will be at MacDIll AFB, Kabul, Afghanistan and Baghdad, Iraq.
MacDill AFB , Florida 33679
United States


fbo .gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d88e9d660336be91552fe8c1a51bacb2&tab=core&_cview=1

[PhoenixAsh]

ok...could you explain this for me? I unfortunately am a little digitally handicaped. My education was pong...

[Delenda Carthago]

the US army(and probsbly not only)is paying people to troll to the web or to impersonate others so that they can create a "public view" on certain things.If you see 120 people dissing the shit out of Stalin in a YouTube video, you gonna think that everyone hates Stalin.Further more, you gonna think that there is a reason why all these people hate him and you might change your view.There was an experiment which showed that people tend to agree with things that can be false just because everybody else thinks that way.

[Red Bayonet]

Not surprising, since US Army/police fusion cells permeate everything left of 'liberal' and everything right of 'conservative'.

[Black Sheep]

Army sponsored? Whoa.

[Lord Testicles]

There was an experiment which showed that people tend to agree with things that can be false just because everybody else thinks that way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments

For anyone that's interested.

[scarletghoul]

Of course, this means that some regular members here could be army trolls ... *struggles to choose between poirot and stalin mustache*

[pranabjyoti]

Of course, this means that some regular members here could be army trolls ... *struggles to choose between poirot and stalin mustache*
A good point, I often feel something like that.

[Red_Struggle]

Well, they already use facebook and other social networks to spy. This is no surprise.

[pranabjyoti]

Well, they already use facebook and other social networks to spy. This is no surprise.
The question is whether they use revleft or not.

[Red Bayonet]

All the more reason for all left groups to completely disband, then re-form under working class leadership, with their own security service to keep the US army/police fusion cell operatives out.

[Red Bayonet]

The question is whether they use revleft or not.
Of course they do. So be careful what you say in here.And don't give out personal info to anybody.

[Catma]

All the more reason for all left groups to completely disband, then re-form under working class leadership, with their own security service to keep the US army/police fusion cell operatives out.

So you see no way to take advantage of internet anonymity? And to counter control of public cyberspace?

[RedHal]

doesn't Israel already do this? I'm sure the high target sites are the news websites with comment sections.

[Red Bayonet]

So long as IP addresses can be traced, I don't think there really is such a thing as complete anonymity on the internet.And your anonymity is your best defense against the fascist American police state.

[Crux]

A good point, I often feel something like that.
It's usually people who are way too supportive and or interested in guerrilla warfare and other illegal actions.

[Victus Mortuum]

There's nothing on this site that is particularly bad. It's usually just used as a discussion board, though I'm constantly watching you for any indications of more. ;)

[HalPhilipWalker]

I'm really not suprised by this. I would actually be more surprised if the military is actually working against the left. This would mean that the military sees the left as a potential threat, which would make me feel pretty good because I don't think the current status of the left in America rises to that level.

[Blackscare]

I say this as someone just making the first steps to become active IRL, so I'm on no highhorse, but I think that if they're worried about anything on the left it's the small but very dedicated numbers of organized revolutionaries in real life.

As far as long term monitoring of users on here, I doubt it. If they keep tabs on here it's probably because if you're a deranged kid who read the communist manifesto and wants to blow himself up, you might post the details on the largest english speaking lefty forum.

[Red Bayonet]

Google up US Army Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Police Intelligence Operations (PIO).

[Catma]

So long as IP addresses can be traced, I don't think there really is such a thing as complete anonymity on the internet.And your anonymity is your best defense against the fascist American police state.

There is definitely no anonymity from the police state. Almost any ISP would sell you out, and the few that wouldn't can be made to bend.

On the other hand, a civilian fascist group could pretty easily terrorize web activists if not for the small measure of anonymity the net provides.

The best defense against the police state is probably to keep close contact with real comrades so it's harder for you to get disappeared without anybody noticing.

[Kléber]

The Chinese government does it too - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party

[HEAD ICE]

I used to troll all the time in America's Army. I would throw my gun and grenades down when everyone on my team died and I would run around the map dodging everyone shooting me and I would taunt them on the chat. Those were good times.

[red cat]

The Chinese government does it too - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_Cent_Party

I was just going to post this.

[Amphictyonis]

PSYOPS have been waged long before the internet. MEDIA is the most classic avenue of social control but now we're seeing the US and other nations use the internet, hell, I'd go as far as to say they have thousands of full time internet posters with multiple persona's each. It's depressing because the internet was suppose to marginalize the capitalists old form of manipulation (the main stream media). I guess like any intelligent parasite they adapt to the environment. On sites like this I would suspect whoever is spreading the most discord or is advocating the most violence would be some sort of idiot or provocateur. I guess it could get deeper and involve trying to manipulate actual theory in a broad sense. That to me would be more dangerous. If capitalists gained control of the actual ideological core of the left. Too bad there is no ideological core -Maybe thats what they wanted to achieve? A fractured and divided left? Or they could just be looking to harvest paranoia like the type I'm showing right now:) Ah hell, what can you do?

[Robocommie]

Ah hell, what can you do?

I think, just keep listening to your conscience and practice critical thinking of everything you read. Challenge your own ideas as much as those of others. That's something we should do anyhow.

[Reznov]

the US army(and probsbly not only)is paying people to troll to the web or to impersonate others so that they can create a "public view" on certain things.If you see 120 people dissing the shit out of Stalin in a YouTube video, you gonna think that everyone hates Stalin.Further more, you gonna think that there is a reason why all these people hate him and you might change your view.There was an experiment which showed that people tend to agree with things that can be false just because everybody else thinks that way.

So we should almost form a "Red Guard" so to speak, or leave comments debating with the users and proving our point on the youtube videos you are talking about.

Then we can get our point AND reason across.

[the last donut of the night]

Of course, this means that some regular members here could be army trolls ... *struggles to choose between poirot and stalin mustache*

i hereby denounce scarletghoul as an army troll

[the last donut of the night]

wait does this mean adi shankara could have been like general petraeus trolling us all?????

[Delenda Carthago]

So we should almost form a "Red Guard" so to speak, or leave comments debating with the users and proving our point on the youtube videos you are talking about.

Then we can get our point AND reason across.
Οr,people should go discuss politics in other internet corners too, other than staying in RL and thinking they are doing something.There are a thousand websites out there where can be turned to ideological warfare battles.Go have fun with it...

[Widerstand]

It's usually people who are way too supportive and or interested in guerrilla warfare and other illegal actions.

Oh no, you are onto me! :bored:

[Omsk]

Nothing new,America is the world's most paranoid supper-power after all.Although the internet is a place hard to control.

[Catma]

The paranoia is justified, once in a while. For now it can afford to be paranoid all the time. We'll see what happens down the road...

[Dimentio]

Could not fake organisations be created so "The Eye of Sauron" would not know where to look?

[Catma]

You'd need to have fake organizations with real posters, and if we had the manpower for that it would be better spent elsewhere. Unfortunately these are class traitors, not algorithms, and they can figure out what to infiltrate.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

They have real life spy "personas" interacting with activists, so why not internet trolls too?

http://www.phillyimc.org/en/fbi-infiltration-anti-war-movement-minneapolis

[Widerstand]

They have real life spy "personas" interacting with activists, so why not internet trolls too?

http://www.phillyimc.org/en/fbi-infiltration-anti-war-movement-minneapolis

Cos there's a substantial difference between what people do and plan on the net and what people do and plan in real life? Unless they were infiltrating hacker groups, which would make sense.

I don't think this is comparable to classical infiltrators, it's more of viral marketing propaganda.

[ChrisK]

When I read the title the image that came to mind was the army with these:

http://files.sharenator.com/Cave_troll_fantasy_animals-s527x354-14384-580.jpg

[Red Bayonet]

Check out the latest issue of Rolling Stone.

[Delenda Carthago]

Spy bloggers not ‘friending’ U.S. targets, Centcom says


By Jeff Stein
The U.S. Central Command says its new “Persona (http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/personalsoftware0302.pdf)” social media "infiltration" software is designed to cozy up to extremist bloggers overseas, not law-abiding Americans chatting on Facebook or similar sites.
Earlier this month, the Web buzzed (http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS241&=&q=persona+management+software&aq=0&aqi=m1&aql=&oq=persona+managementn+software#hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS241&=&q=persona+management+software&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbo=u&tbs=nws:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wn&bav=on.2,or.&fp=7e644e0018037e50) with a report (http://www.seankerrigan.com/pms.html) that the software was designed to “manage ‘fake people’ on social media sites and create the illusion of consensus on controversial issues,” implying that the Defense Department was targeting critics of the war in Afghanistan and other conflicts.
Further compounding a sinister view of the software was the discovery (http://www.seankerrigan.com/pms.html) of e-mails from the head of a company implicated in “dirty tricks” against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and a pro-labor organization, which discussed how such technology could be used.
"There are a variety of social media tricks we can use to add a level of realness to all fictitious personas...” wrote Aaron Barr, the chief executive officer of HBGary Federal (http://www.hbgary.com/), a Colorado Springs company whose hacked e-mails revealed plans to attack critics of Bank of America and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Barr resigned Feb. 28 “to allow the company to move on after an embarrassing data breach,” according to the technology Web site ThreatPost (http://threatpost.com/en_u/blogs/hbgary-federal-ceo-aaron-barr-steps-down-022811).
Centom's June 22, 2010, contract (http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/personalsoftware0302.pdf), offered through the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, specified that “Individual applications will enable an operator to exercise a number of different online persons from the same workstation and without fear of being discovered by sophisticated adversaries…while hiding the existence of the operation…and provid(ing) excellent cover and powerful deniability.”
“Individuals can perform static impersonations, which allow them to look like the same person over time,” the contract added. It “also allows organizations that frequent same site/service often to easily switch IP addresses to look like ordinary users as opposed to one organization.”
The fake Internet personas, the contract specified, “must be able to appear to originate in nearly any part of the world and can interact through conventional online services and social media platforms.”
Centcom spokesman Cmdr. Bill Speaks acknowledged in an interview last week that the Air Force had a contract for the Persona Management Software, but denied it would be deployed against domestic online protesters.
“The contract, and the Persona management technology itself, supports classified blogging activities on foreign-language Web sites to enable CENTCOM to counter violent extremist and enemy propaganda outside the U.S.,” Speaks told SpyTalk (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/). “The contract would more accurately be described as supporting U.S. Central Command, rather than the Air Force -- the Wing here at MacDill provides contracting support for us -- efforts.”
Speaks said the software would "absolutely" not be used against law-abiding Americans.
[Update: Speaks adds, "The phrase [law-abiding] suggests that we might use it against Americans who are not law-abiding. The truth is that these activities are not directed towards Americans, without qualification."]
Former CIA director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael V. Hayden called the technology cutting-edge but “developmental.”
“Operationally developmental, technologically developmental and legally developmental,” he told (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/1/us-central-command-friending-the-enemy-in-psycholo/) Washington Times reporter Shawn Waterman.
But in testimony (http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/posture-statement/) last June, then-Centcom commander Gen. David Petraeus (http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Gen._David_Petraeus) suggested the use of such technology was well underway.
“Operation Earnest Voice (OEV) is the critical program of record that resources our efforts to synchronize our Information Operations activities, to counter extremist ideology and propaganda, and to ensure that credible voices in the region are heard,” Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“OEV provides Centcom with direct communication capabilities to reach regional audiences through traditional media as well as via Web sites and regional public affairs blogging,” Petraeus said.
The FBI has also used fictitious identities for years to infiltrate jihadist Web sites.
Sometimes touted (http://www.spymuseum.org/events/calendar/who%E2%80%99s-watching-whom-spying-and-social-media) as "America’s first online operative in the War on Terror," the FBI's Shannen L. Rossmiller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannen_Rossmiller), a former Montana municipal judge, is said to have "created 30 fictitious male Islamist undercover identities...for purposes of communicating and tracking the enemy [in] Arabic language Internet forums."
"Since 9/11, Judge Rossmiller has delivered more than 200 cases of actionable intelligence and stings -- including two of the largest convictions in the War on Terror," her Web site (http://shannen-rossmiller.com/index_files/Page303.htm) claims.



http://voices.washingtonpost.com/spy-talk/2011/03/spy_bloggers_not_friending_us.html

[Fulanito de Tal]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments

For anyone that's interested.
TYIh4MkcfJA

[thesadmafioso]

The left does a respectable job of trolling itself without any outside assistance, the US army need not bother to waste its time.