I can’t say its jaw dropping because it was kinda an open secret but: Given how much actual disinformation and bullshit was going on in the middle of COVID on social media it’s a pretty chilling mask off reveal on what the actual priorities are. Honestly if you had told me this is how it would play out even just 2 years ago I don’t know if I would have believed it.
The number rule of counterintelligence is to never reveal your position. I imagine this statement is not the actual truth but instead the narrative that has been agreed to.
I believe the real truth is that TikTok, unlike all other major internet systems, was not built with integration into the USA’s surveillance and propaganda systems in mind, and while US operations are fully infiltrated by US state actors, the actual technology and infrastructure remains somehow opaque to US intelligence.
The move to shut it down is really just a move to force a sale. They are banking on the profit motive being enough for ByteDance to give over enough control as to allow the USA to integrate fully with the tech statck.
But no one can say this out loud so a narrative that is believable enough, incendiary enough, and one that actively resisting would trigger infighting about is the perfect narrative.
Honestly
IMHO.The US would like to better control narratives such as — but certainly not limited to — the one about Gaza, and integrating all the English speaking Internet into its surveillance is how they want to do it.
I guess I am saying they don’t care about the risk of radicalization as much as they care about their inability to influence thought. If they cared about radicalization, so many things would be a problem. But they only go after the opaque systems, because it’s the opacity that’s the problem.
The US government also spent tens of millions on posting and promoting anti-vax conspiracy propaganda in other countries.
Indeed. Also worth pointing out to those who may not know: while the bulk of that was part of the trump administration a not insignificant portion of it was conducted under Biden before he shut it down.
“The world is screaming about Israel, why aren’t they screaming about Hamas?” asked Romney. “‘Accept a cease-fire, bring home the hostages.’ Instead it’s the other way around, I mean, typically the Israelis are good at PR. What’s happened here? How have they, and we, been so ineffective at communicating the realities there?”
Everything you do to the Palestinians you are also doing to the hostages you claim to care so much about so how do you justify that one?
They have been ready to settle for a while but Bibi keeps changing the terms to grab more land and oppress the Palestinians further. Even if you remove Bibi, the entire governemnt of pissreal is a ethnofascist terrorist colonial project so Bibi is just a figurehead. Just come out in your white robes already Romney.
i think it shows how out of touch i am to think that these admissions are mind blowing in their frankness about manufacturing consent and narrative control, but a huge majority of my fellow countrymen see it as a nothing-burger.
honestly, they are completly in boomer brain mode. “there is a resentment against israel. Is it because how proudly they are about their crimes? or is it because all of Gaza being destroyed? or is it because their self admitted genocidal intentions? nope, it is all doing of that dang socal media app kids love to use. Everything will be right as god intended if we get rid of it”
Burger brains do love their nothing burgers lol
The less thought, the better!
I remember this, this was from last year I feel like I saw this discussion on video. Does anyone have this clip?
Yeah the article is from May 6th of last year. I think there’s a video of him saying that part halfway down the page.
Good article, thanks for sharing.
