Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc are used by billions of people around the World. These Platforms are professional, specific, focused and high influence makers. They can shape the opinion of any crucial issue, especially the controversial ones. After all “Public Opinion” is the most powerful tool of a Democratic Nation.No country can afford to have “Negative Publicity” and “Adverse Public Opinion” in the Cyberspace. Brand Management Companies are regularly keeping an eye upon the “Reputation” and “Goodwill” of their client companies. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Companies are working hard to get their clients “Listed High” in Search Engine Results Page (SERPs) of Search Engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.
As per a recent media report, US Military is planning to manipulate social media through the use of fake online "personas" managed by it. Raw Story recently reported that the US Air Force had solicited private sector vendors for something called "persona management software." Such a technology would allow single individuals to command virtual armies of fake, digital "people" across numerous social media portals.
These "personas" were to have detailed, fictionalised backgrounds, to make them believable to outside observers, and a sophisticated identity protection service was to back them up, preventing suspicious readers from uncovering the real person behind the account. They even worked out ways to game geolocating services, so these "personas" could be virtually inserted anywhere in the world, providing ostensibly live commentary on real events, even while the operator was not really present.
A fake virtual army of people could be used to help create the impression of consensus opinion in online comment threads, or manipulate social media to the point where valuable stories are suppressed.
This proposal supports classified social media activities outside the U.S., intended to counter violent extremist ideology and enemy propaganda. The Air Force has even other classified uses for social media. Let us see how things would take shape in the future in this regard.
The concept of persona management is already in use. I don't see the problem with the military's use of it. Everyone praises "Anonymous" and "LulzSec". When you think about it, they are doing exactly the same thing. Fictitious personas to create havoc through the use of social media.
ReplyDeletewhatever they are taken to prevent from malicious activity on the cyber space ,it would not be hundred percentage and whatever proclaimed by personal management in the terms of information security that they are having robust information security policy is a good step and this is one best way to prevent from malicious activity .
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