20 votes

Information operations directed at Hong Kong

6 comments

  1. [2]
    balooga
    Link
    Good on Twitter for disclosing this and not just turning a blind eye to known propaganda / psyops. I hope they would be as forthcoming about any nation-state trying to pull crap like this... they...

    Good on Twitter for disclosing this and not just turning a blind eye to known propaganda / psyops. I hope they would be as forthcoming about any nation-state trying to pull crap like this... they all do it, to varying degrees, and should be exposed uniformly.

    What's happening in Hong Kong is atrocious, but I am speaking more broadly about the state of disinformation campaigns on the web.

    7 votes
    1. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. ascii
        Link Parent
        Sure, cleaning up state-sponsored disinformation makes for healthier conversations, which is good for users, but that's not necessarily good for Twitter's P&L. Controversy, drama, emotion and hate...

        because it makes business sense

        Sure, cleaning up state-sponsored disinformation makes for healthier conversations, which is good for users, but that's not necessarily good for Twitter's P&L.

        Controversy, drama, emotion and hate drive engagement and ad impressions for Twitter and Facebook. They make more money when there's greater division and conflict.

        It's not clear to me that "political points" convert to dollars in the bank. Maybe disclosing this just adds to the drumbeat that social media is a virus that needs to be regulated by the state.

        3 votes
  2. [3]
    shiruken
    (edited )
    Link
    Meanwhile Twitter continues to allow Chinese state media to buy ads attacking the protests: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/hong-kong-protests-violent-facebook-twitter-ads-china-state

    Meanwhile Twitter continues to allow Chinese state media to buy ads attacking the protests: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/hong-kong-protests-violent-facebook-twitter-ads-china-state

    1 vote