Many of you saw me posting on this topic over the weekendπ— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
The column π goes into more detail about how to understand psychological operations in the information domain, and what they aim to achieve
/2https://t.co/3VLyg1BX1f
The piece goes into detail about the text messages and screenshots circulating last week warning towns that “agitators” were coming and to be prepared. FB, NextDoor, SMS — these campaigns were hyperlocal— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
Many of you plugged-in tweeps helped collect and flag these messages /4 pic.twitter.com/85nIhJTg5m
These rumors spread rapidly. They echoed larger campaigns of fear-mongering from POTUS, the AG, Fox News, and more.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
Local law enforcement was left on the front lines to respond to concerned citizens. These are good examples.π Many didn’t fair so well. /6 pic.twitter.com/S7kdb8CeOO
Using army doctrine, I previously wrote a code of conduct for the rules that should guide how influence operations are conducted domestically.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
At the heart of this: no deception in attribution or content. /8https://t.co/e3tthw5w6B
In a military context, PSYOP is a highly controlled process used against foreign targets.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
In the current sh*tshow of the American information environment, actors foreign and domestic are using these techniques with varying degrees of sophistication to target Americans. /10
So, what can you do about it?— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
As we discuss information threats specific to the current landscape, it’s important to return to the question guiding this series:
What does it mean to be a better information citizen? /12
This transmission “just to be sure” is fanning the flames of a campaign that aims to polarize us and spark conflict.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
1- Be a roadblock for these types of campaigns: transmission stops with you. /14
Don’t transmit rumors that are designed to exploit our psychology.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
3- Confront manipulative info when it is before you: speak out, tell the group the post is fake/get them to delete it, tell your family member there’s no proof, tell your friend to stop spreading this stuff /16
5- On social media, we can praise the efforts of local authorities and local newspapers and media organizations to combat these types of disinformation campaigns.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
For example, @IdahoStatesman had several pieces on this topic π /18
6- Finally, share content carefully, when it makes sense to do so, to raise concerns or alarm about information you are seeing when you believe it is false.— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) June 8, 2020
Get the whisper campaign out of the shadows.
Read the whole piece here: /19https://t.co/YpTiI1yAA2