Early, unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism,” Wray said. “You should be confident that your vote counts. Wray said officials are “coordinating with the private sector-both technology and social media companies-to make sure that their platforms are not used by foreign adversaries to spread disinformation and propaganda.” The messages sought to convince social media users that President Trump was dying of COVID-19 and that Black Lives Matter protesters had fired gunshots outside the home of Bill and Hilary Clinton. Zeke Emanuel, in order to push racist fake narratives about coronavirus vaccine experiments on Black Americans and treatment for the disease in FEMA camps.Įarlier this month, Twitter accounts identified by The Daily Beast and Mandiant Threat Intelligence, and attributed to Iran by Twitter, amplified fake tweets from a hacked Israeli news outlet’s Twitter account. Tammy Duckworth, and impersonated a World Health Organization executive and a prominent public health expert, Dr. The accounts have floated racist conspiracy theories about a Navy ship fire with a forged letter from Sen. ![]() Over the past year, a number of Iranian-linked and pro-Iranian Twitter accounts identified by The Daily Beast have sought to seize on divisive issues in American politics with fake stories hosted at spoofed websites. In early October, the Justice Department seized 92 fake news domains, first linked to Iran by researchers at FireEye in 2018, which it said were run by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At least one account referenced President Trump’s comments that the Proud Boys need to “stand by and stand down.” Presidential Debate” and the social media company quickly suspended them. ![]() The accounts, according to Twitter, were “attempting to disrupt the public conversation during the first 2020 U.S. In September, the FBI tipped off Twitter about a network of 130 fake accounts posing as pro and anti-Trump Americans which were run by operators in Iran. But pro-Iranian and Iranian-linked trolls on Twitter have been active over the past year in efforts to meddle in American politics on issues ranging from the election campaign to the coronavirus pandemic. Ratcliffe and FBI Director Christopher Wray did not supply specific evidence connecting Iran to the Proud Boys impersonation. That trolls tied to Iran might seize on the group’s notoriety and very real concerns across the country about possible Election Day violence should come as no surprise. One internet hoaxer openly admitted to The Daily Beast that he’ d sent out phony Proud Boys recruitment texts in an attempt to “help drive voter turnout” and even set up a fake “assault rifle” raffle. The Proud Boys have been a magnet for trolls since Trump ignited controversy by nodding at them in the middle of his first debate against Democratic opponent Joe Biden last month. ![]() “You will vote for Trump on Election Day or we will come after you,” the messages read.Īsked late Wednesday if he had seen the FBI announcement about Iran being behind the spoofing operation, Enrique Tarrio, the chairman of the Proud Boys, told The Daily Beast: “Yes. The emails, which had been made to look like they were sent from the Proud Boys, a right-wing paramilitary group, warned recipients that the group had all their private information and suggested that any attempt to disobey the directive would have nasty consequences. Wednesday’s announcement came just a day after authorities in Florida and Alaska sought help from the feds to investigate a flurry of emails sent to Democratic voters demanding they vote for Trump and switch their party affiliation. In the past, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have taken months to finger a foreign actor behind a disinformation or election interference campaign.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |