we don't even totally know the relationship between Russian intel orgs, "fake news" outlets, and so-called "troll farms"
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Replying to @hannahgais
the assumption that Vladimir Putin is an extremely accomplished puppet-master and controls all of this is hilariously misguided, honestly
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Replying to @hannahgais
Also, the attribution for a bunch of activity the far right has engaged in for decades to Putin is seriously problematic.
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Replying to @emptywheel
it's bizarre, too, to see ppl jump from "Russia's strategy is to extend a hand to friendly far-right groups" to "Russia controls them all"
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Replying to @hannahgais
It's so wrong-headed both for how it oversells Putin and for the way it excuses the racist right here.
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Replying to @emptywheel
totally. the connections are extremely interesting—and scary!—but more care needs to be taken in how they're framed.
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Replying to @hannahgais @emptywheel
I like the point about transparency with methods. Also though, what incentives cause the racist right here to parrot Russian talking points?
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My guess is it's all about the likes/RTs. Also, related: can't advertisers buy shady fake likes? Maybe it's US buyers paying for all this?
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But then why do you get e.g. racists from Ohio whining that civil society is a regime change strategy? Do people here care about that?
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My point is just that shady campaign financing and the paid click economy seem under explored, and might explain some of the Russia stuff.
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It might. Or the pre-existing network of racist right might have been IDed by RU as an obvious weak point, which it is.
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