Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumDuring the two debates, 100's of bots pushed divisive racial content targeted at Kamala Harris
Eliza Collins @elizacollins1 19hHundreds of bot-like social media accounts pushed divisive racial content, particularly targeted at @KamalaHarris during the last two sets of debates.
Data shows suspicious social-media accounts targeted Kamala Harris, including with conspiracy theories, during both Democratic gatherings
____Hundreds of social-media accounts with bot-like traits promoted misinformation and content aimed at inflaming racial divisions during both nights of Democratic presidential debates, continuing similar activity during the first set of debates last month, according to data analyzed by The Wall Street Journal.
The bot-like activity on Tuesday and Wednesday nights was consistent with online discussions around Sen. Kamala Harriss ethnicity during the first Democratic debate, indicating both Ms. Harris, who is black, and racial issues as key targets for bot-like accounts during the 2020 election campaign.
During the second debate, conservative actor and comedian Terrence K. Williams tweeted #KamalaHarrisDestroyed after Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard lit into Ms. Harriss record as a prosecutor, saying she had been unfairly aggressive during her tenure. Ms. Harris disputed the charge onstage, saying she was proud of what she had accomplished as a prosecutor, which included time as San Franciscos district attorney and Californias attorney general. Mr. Williamss tweet took off, garnering more than 12,000 retweets as of Thursday morning, but the Storyful analysis found hundreds of the accounts retweeting the post had questionable characteristics.
In the first round of Democratic debates in June, an exchange between former Vice President Joe Biden and Ms. Harris put racial issues in sharp focus when Mr. Biden was criticized for his record on busing and for past comments about working with segregationist senators. Tweets questioning Ms. Harriss ethnicity, saying that she is not black, were circulated by bot-like accounts. The activity followed a series of tweets by Mr. Alexander claiming that Ms. Harris is *not* an American Black. She is half Indian and half Jamaican. Donald Trump Jr., President Trumps son, shared that tweet and then deleted it.
While it couldnt be determined who is behind such accounts, they are used to disseminate misinformation. Researchers say malicious actors exploit the anonymity accorded by social media to create legions of bots that flood platforms with an identical hashtag, or retweet of a post, which can artificially boost a topics popularity. Russian actors used such accounts to influence the U.S. election in 2016.
read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bots-pushed-divisive-content-misinformation-on-race-during-debates-11564678048
Link to tweet
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
watoos
(7,142 posts)they don't want Harris to run against Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
bigtree
(86,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)Will use social media to the fullest extent to spread the wretchedness.
We must continue to be vocal and just as adamant about spreading truth. Even more so actually.
And call out the damned ratings hungry, reality Show mentality media.
Not an easy task but the risks of losing are too destructive to our country and humanity.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RockRaven
(14,985 posts)Honestly, bot armies attacking a candidate is a sign to give that candidate a serious look and see what the bot-masters are so worried about.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
real Cannabis calm
(1,124 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
bigtree
(86,005 posts)...
"Honestly, bot armies attacking a candidate is a sign to give that candidate a serious look and see what the bot-masters are so worried about."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)said the GRU would use Gabbard as their stalking Horse against Harris. Now we are seeing it in real time.
After the Racist Accused Rapist's phone call to his master Vlad the other day,watch for these GRU Bots just go nuts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
highplainsdem
(49,022 posts)The Democratic field of 24 candidates is the most diverse in the partys history, but the candidates onstage for Tuesday nights debate, selected by random draw, were all white. On Wednesday night half the stage consisted of nonwhite candidates.
So the aim the first night was, probably, to suppress the black vote for Democratic candidates.
The second night's bot attack was aimed at Harris.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emulatorloo
(44,164 posts)suppress turnout for the Democratic candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mcar
(42,366 posts)that's for sure.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden