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Iranian Disinformation Effort Went Small to Stay Under Big Tech’s Radar (nytimes.com)
7 points by ctoth on June 30, 2021 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments



So here's an interesting problem.

To have a big disinformation effect, you need to influence many people in a strong way.

To stay undetected, you need to keep it small and soft, reaching few people with low intensity.

If you want to use amplification to convince a core group of spreaders, you need to be authentic (which, as the article shows, isn't easy because of language, culture, personal contact etc.)

It seems that the only remaining option is to convince people of obvious but harmful opinions which they unconsciously held before?


What makes a comparison between Netanyahu and Hitler “disinformation” but a comparison between Trump and Hitler normal? Besides the wide gulf in IQs, Netanyahu and Trump are fairly close on the political spectrum.


Its just fine for the NYT. Actually, I'm surprised what NYT don't recognize mostly peaceful Iranian cleptocratic junta as oppressed and doesn't come to their defense. Not fair, NYT loves HAMAS but not their sponsors!


> They were sharing memes, for example, that likened Mr. Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler — an offensive comparison that could prod some people into more extreme views and make others think their online groups had become too extreme.

It's really quite excellent that people only call their political opponents Hitler on those dirty encrypted messengers where all the wrongthink happens, and not on, say, Twitter.




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