Woman sues pro-Putin "troll factory"

Dohnjoe

In light of recent events this woman sued them and "won" (a token rouble payout). Surprised I missed this story at the time, but still relevant

A Russian court has ordered a secretive pro-Putin “propaganda factory” to pay symbolic damages to an employee who sued them in a bid to expose the workings of the Kremlin’s online trolls.

The Agency for Internet Studies, which hired people to write pro-Kremlin propaganda from a nondescript St Petersburg address, was sued by ex-employee Lyudmila Savchuk for alleged non-payment of wages and for failing to give workers proper contracts.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/woman-who-sued-pro-putin-russian-troll-factory-gets-one-rouble-in-damages

I reckon we've had a few of them here on boards.

Ten of Swords

Boards closed the Russian forum

Problem solved

biko

Dohnjoe wrote: »

I reckon we've had a few of them here on boards.

Quite a few of them works for The Guardian.

Or maybe not, then they would know that they're not actually trolls, they're bots.

Vladimir Poontang

Muh Russians

Gatling

Dohnjoe wrote: »

In light of recent events this woman sued them and "won" (a token rouble payout). Surprised I missed this story at the time, but still relevant



https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/woman-who-sued-pro-putin-russian-troll-factory-gets-one-rouble-in-damages

I reckon we've had a few of them here on boards.

Been pissing them off here off for years now

Dohnjoe

Gatling wrote: »

Been pissing them off here off for years now

And nyet earning rouble for this? .. crazy westerner

cantdecide

biko wrote: »

Quite a few of them works for The Guardian.

Or maybe not, then they would know that they're not actually trolls, they're bots.

They're not actually bots. They prefer to be called automatons.

Yer Da sells Avon

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Boards closed the Russian forum

Problem solved

Я так не думаю

ChikiChiki

This has been well known for years, even before the US election there were articles about that place in St Petersburg.

Elmer Blooker

Dohnjoe wrote: »

In light of recent events this woman sued them and "won" (a token rouble payout). Surprised I missed this story at the time, but still relevant
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/18/woman-who-sued-pro-putin-russian-troll-factory-gets-one-rouble-in-damages

Savchuk and other employees bombarded website comment pages with praise for Vladimir Putin.

What website comment pages? Hardly English language western ones because Ms Savchuk doesn't speak a word of English? Theres an interview with her on youtube and an interpreter has to be used.
Perhaps you can enlighten me?

Dohnjoe

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

What website comment pages? Hardly English language western ones because Ms Savchuk doesn't speak a word of English? Theres an interview with her on youtube and an interpreter has to be used.
Perhaps you can enlighten me?

The "Internet Research Agency" is responsible for a large amount of English speaking pro-Russian propaganda across multiple fronts
Overview here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Research_Agency

A recent example is the number of submissions on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/RussiaLago/comments/7y6ola/there_have_been_241_posts_in_rthe_donald_linking/
(the comment directly underneath counts over 1200 submissions from IRA accounts)

Responsible for fake bloggers with tens of thousands of followers
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/03/alt-right-twitter-blogger-jenna-abrams-unmasked-creation-russian/

The troll farm has been indicted by Mueller for interfering with the US elections
http://www.euronews.com/2018/02/17/the-internet-research-agency-the-russian-troll-farm-that-meddled-with-2016-us-elections

It's all part of the broader information and propaganda war conducted by Russia

suicide_circus

A once proud country now resorts to state sponsored internet trolling, sad.

Elmer Blooker

Dohnjoe wrote: »

A recent example is the number of submissions on Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/RussiaLago/comments/7y6ola/there_have_been_241_posts_in_rthe_donald_linking/
(the comment directly underneath counts over 1200 submissions from IRA accounts)
with the US elections

I had a look at some of the "trolls" in this link and I can't find anything that can prove that Russian "interference" influenced the US election but if criticism of H.Clinton can be considered as interference then so be it.
I didn't bother to open the torygraph link and what would you expect Mueller to say.
By the way I saw Bellingcat mentioned in the wiki link - irony or what!
Believe me, in the propaganda war the Russians are light years behind. Money and not the internet buys elections.

Gatling

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

I had a look at some of the "trolls" in this link and I can't find anything that can prove that Russian "interference"

Were you talking to the man in the mirror

Elmer Blooker

Gatling wrote: »

Were you talking to the man in the mirror

Imagine posting this in a thread about trolling. You just don't get it do you?
You never did. But at least you're honest, last night you admitted you are a troll.

Been pissing them off here off for years now

Dohnjoe

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

if criticism of H.Clinton can be considered as interference then so be it.

It wasn't criticism. It was a vast coordinated state effort of deliberately planted false and fake stories and heavy propaganda against one candidate in favor of another to potentially affect the outcome of election. Other methods included reaching out illegally to one candidates election team (and possibly the candidate himself)

Trump agreed with the US intelligence services consensus that Russia tried to influence the election
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-agrees-us-intelligence-community-russia-meddled-election/story?id=51091798

One of the tools the Kremlin used were these "troll factories" as detailed in the links

Getting caught doing it is not really an issue for Putin (Russian press freedom is already in the gutter, viable opposition under arrest, house arrest or dead) - so it's unlikely to affect him domestically. Thankfully countries are getting wise to it and are taking measures to protect themselves from it

Elmer Blooker

Dohnjoe wrote: »

It wasn't criticism. It was a vast coordinated state effort of deliberately planted false and fake stories and heavy propaganda against one candidate in favor of another to potentially affect the outcome of election. Other methods included reaching out illegally to one candidates election team (and possibly the candidate himself)

Trump agreed with the US intelligence services consensus that Russia tried to influence the election
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-agrees-us-intelligence-community-russia-meddled-election/story?id=51091798

One of the tools the Kremlin used were these "troll factories" as detailed in the links

Getting caught doing it is not really an issue for Putin (Russian press freedom is already in the gutter, viable opposition under arrest, house arrest or dead) - so it's unlikely to affect him domestically. Thankfully countries are getting wise to it and are taking measures to protect themselves from it

I really feel that this debate is going nowhere. I find it absolutely ludicrous that 13 Russians and a bunch of internet trolls can influence an election in a country with a multi billion dollar security/intelligence budget. If that is the case then the US is now in the banana republic category.

milehip

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

Dohnjoe wrote: »

It wasn't criticism. It was a vast coordinated state effort of deliberately planted false and fake stories and heavy propaganda against one candidate in favor of another to potentially affect the outcome of election. Other methods included reaching out illegally to one candidates election team (and possibly the candidate himself)

Trump agreed with the US intelligence services consensus that Russia tried to influence the election
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-agrees-us-intelligence-community-russia-meddled-election/story?id=51091798

One of the tools the Kremlin used were these "troll factories" as detailed in the links

Getting caught doing it is not really an issue for Putin (Russian press freedom is already in the gutter, viable opposition under arrest, house arrest or dead) - so it's unlikely to affect him domestically. Thankfully countries are getting wise to it and are taking measures to protect themselves from it

I really feel that this debate is going nowhere. I find it absolutely ludicrous that 13 Russians and a bunch of internet trolls can influence an election in a country with a multi billion dollar security/intelligence budget. If that is the case then the US is now in the banana republic category.

Nice of you to join us tonight Donald.

Dohnjoe

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

I really feel that this debate is going nowhere. I find it absolutely ludicrous that 13 Russians and a bunch of internet trolls can influence an election in a country with a multi billion dollar security/intelligence budget. If that is the case then the US is now in the banana republic category.

Argument from incredulity

"I can't believe X, Y, Z.. therefore can't be true" or "X, Y, Z contradicts my world view therefore I cannot believe it"

Facebook alone said Russian backed propaganda and ads regarding the 2016 elections reached 126 million people.

Mueller has indicted 13, it doesn't mean literally only "13 individuals" are involved. It's estimated there were around several hundred employees in the mentioned factory alone (of which they chose to indict 12)

It's not crude either, very sophisticated and elaborate ways of creating fake news and manipulating the media - well detailed here
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/magazine/the-agency.html

Gatling

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

But at least you're honest, last night you admitted you are a troll.

Eh No .

Your still wrong .


Imagine that .


I clearly stated I've been pissing the putinbots for years ,
isn't the right elmer

Vladimir Poontang

The whole thing is ****ing laughable and has been since the night of the election when Hillary's sycophants panicked and scrambled to concoct a narrative to cover for her humiliating and embarrassing loss.

Thus Russiagate was born.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gatling wrote: »

Were you talking to the man in the mirror

Are you really that nutty to think that Irish people who oppose American foreign policy are all russkies. Surely you realise that opppsition to US foreign policy is the most common position in Ireland.

And the US has both troll factories and bought and paid for journalists and think thanks. Etc.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gatling wrote: »

Eh No .

Your still wrong .


Imagine that .


I clearly stated I've been pissing the putinbots for years ,
isn't the right elmer

So to be clear. You think Elmer is a Russian?

Franz Von Peppercorn

Anyway the obligatory list of us interference. Real interference here. Assassinations. Death squads. Coups.

And it doesn’t include all of the money the CIA spends on other forms of interference. Here’s a list.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_electoral_intervention

IIGeminiII

Got to laugh at all of the hand wringing about Russian troll armies and fake news when the entire american film industry is essentially the most successful and sustained propaganda effort in human history.

The Russians have nothing on the US, Britain or France when it comes to propaganda or fake news.

prinzeugen

IIGeminiII wrote: »

Got to laugh at all of the hand wringing about Russian troll armies and fake news when the entire american film industry is essentially the most successful and sustained propaganda effort in human history.

The Russians have nothing on the US, Britain or France when it comes to propaganda or fake news.

How's the weather in St Petersburg?

Franz Von Peppercorn

^ It’s like living in the McCarthyite era again. Tin foil hats all around.

Gatling

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

^ It’s like living in the McCarthyite era again. Tin foil hats all around.

Low count newly registered or re-registered in most cases defending russian interference with tinfoilary .

You would think that they would have given up by now

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gatling wrote: »

Low count newly registered or re-registered in most cases defending russian interference with tinfoilary .

You would think that they would have given up by now

You are literally so incapable of justifying the actions of your beloved yank army in their continued genocides that you can’t do anything but scream “Russian” at any difference of opinion.

As I said the vast majority of Irish people oppose American foreign policy.

Dohnjoe

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

And the US has both troll factories and bought and paid for journalists and think thanks. Etc.

Can you provide the sources for this, thanks

suicide_circus

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Are you really that nutty to think that Irish people who oppose American foreign policy are all russkies. Surely you realise that opppsition to US foreign policy is the most common position in Ireland.

And the US has both troll factories and bought and paid for journalists and think thanks. Etc.

Yeah but when the excitement hits the fan, who you gonna call?

Dohnjoe

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

You are literally so incapable of justifying the actions of your beloved yank army in their continued genocides that you can’t do anything but scream “Russian” at any difference of opinion.

This is your personal private opinion.

I've come across more than a few who are so vehemently opposed to any country X policy, gripped with such hatred that they support ridiculous conspiracy theories and defend opposing leaders to country X to an extreme

Their positions are highly partisan, it's almost pointless trying to have any rational or objective debate with them (without fail they will bring up events from decades before, even hundreds of years to demonstrate how "evil" their target is, despite policy actions being taken by completely differing administrations) They will always present their slanted world views as "the norm"

On this particular subject they are essentially indistinguishable from any Putin-bot

IIGeminiII

prinzeugen wrote: »

How's the weather in St Petersburg?

Tin-foil hat much? Lol

Billy86

Dohnjoe wrote: »

I reckon we've had a few of them here on boards.

I wouldn't entirely rule it out I guess, but wouldn't be so sure - boards isn't a big enough site nor Ireland a big enough country to really put too many efforts into (though around the time of the Brexit referendum may have been one exception) and the layout of the forum doesn't lend itself to this kind of attack that well, while reddit with the upvote system, FB and Twitter with likes, shares and retweets, and so on do so much more. For example if a post on page 4 of a thread gets 550 'thanks' on here, it's still not on the front page, and as soon as things roll on to page 5, it's no longer on the 'latest' page either while on the other platforms it can be used to manipulate something to stay on the 'top' of the pile for a lot longer.

It would be far more efficient for them to spread fake news and sow discord over those more popular, more manipulable platforms and let the convenient idiots go ahead and share it on the likes of boards themselves which we have not been lacking for. In fact, that seems to be their preferred method in general if you've read the subpoena from the indictments.

Billy86

Elmer Blooker wrote: »

Money and not the internet buys elections.

Such a shame Putin's estimated worth of $200 billion along with the Russian oligarchy have no such access to money.

Vladimir Poontang

If anything, there are several posters on boards who spend almost their entire time posting exclusively pro US and Israeli content and simultaneously castigating their critics as Putin bots.

I'm not saying they are paid, but they sure as hell are obvious.

IIGeminiII

Dohnjoe wrote: »

Their positions are highly partisan, it's almost pointless trying to have any rational or objective debate with them (without fail they will bring up events from decades before, even hundreds of years

Please. Pull the other one. The reason people aren't buying your sob story is because the US [along with their satellite states in Europe] have a long, egregious and historically provable track record of destabilising many, many other countries in basically every continent on the globe by fomenting rebellions, organising stooge candidates, creating false narratives, economic and industrial sabotage, mass murder, targetted assassinations, and everything in between. And you don't have to look back one hundred years, this runs until the present day.

You've bought the company line, hook, line and sinker. That's your own business, but don't think that making shapes and calling people out on being putin bots by reference to their post count looks like anything other than foolish.

Gatling

IIGeminiII wrote: »

Please. Pull the other one. The reason people aren't buying your sob story is because the US [along with their satellite states in Europe] have a long, egregious and historically provable track record of destabilising many, many other countries in basically every continent on the globe by fomenting rebellions, organising stooge candidates, creating false narratives, economic and industrial sabotage, mass murder, targetted assassinations, and everything in between. And you don't have to look back one hundred years, this runs until the present day.

The exact same is said about russia ,

Ukraine , Georgia ,are prime examples along with Afghanistan and the occupation and repression of eastern Europe

Franz Von Peppercorn

Gatling wrote: »

The exact same is said about russia ,

Ukraine , Georgia ,are prime examples along with Afghanistan and the occupation and repression of eastern Europe

Russia is not the Soviet Union, and so we can ignore the Eastern European bit. In the other cases the US and Russia both interfered.

Gatling

Billy86 wrote: »

It would be far more efficient for them to spread fake news and sow discord over those more popular, more manipulable platforms and let the convenient idiots go ahead and share it on the likes of boards themselves which we have not been lacking for. In fact, that seems to be their preferred method in general if you've read the subpoena from the indictments.

But this is exactly what they have been doing on here whether it be it in threads on Georgia , Ukraine ,the suppossed surrounding of russia by nato ,
The shooting down of Flight MH17 and the blame on everyone else ,
And anything to do with Syria .

It's the same thing lies and fake news ,
One example is a poster claiming mass graves had been found in parts of east Ukraine and linked to multiple russian news agencies showing fresh piles of dirt with russian soldiers around which apparently contained hundreds of bodies but yet nothing was ever found

Franz Von Peppercorn

Dohnjoe wrote: »

This is your personal private opinion.

I've come across more than a few who are so vehemently opposed to any country X policy, gripped with such hatred that they support ridiculous conspiracy theories and defend opposing leaders to country X to an extreme

Their positions are highly partisan, it's almost pointless trying to have any rational or objective debate with them (without fail they will bring up events from decades before, even hundreds of years to demonstrate how "evil" their target is, despite policy actions being taken by completely differing administrations) They will always present their slanted world views as "the norm"

On this particular subject they are essentially indistinguishable from any Putin-bot

Until the last sentence I thought you were going to say “Gatling, for example”.

I mean he’s just mentioned the Soviet Union. That’s gone. Might as well mention the Austria- Hungarian empire when talking about Hungary or Austria.

So let’s stick to the last few years. Has Russia does all this: invaded Iraq? Afghanistan. Destabilised Syria. Overthrown Libya? Helped to destabilise Yemen with its proxy Saudi friends. Does it sabre rattle at China and North Korea, continuously threaten Iran and interfere (as always) in the electoral systems of many countries around the world - supporting rebellions where it can (including Georgia and Ukraine).

Gatling

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Russia is not the Soviet Union, and so we can ignore the Eastern European bit. In the other cases the US and Russia both interfered.

No it's not ,

One country ,one dictatorship ,one party ,
Still have a habit for occupations and interference in other states especially neighbors

Billy86

Gatling wrote: »

But this is exactly what they have been doing on here whether it be it in threads on Georgia , Ukraine ,the suppossed surrounding of russia by nato ,
The shooting down of Flight MH17 and the blame on everyone else ,
And anything to do with Syria .

It's the same thing lies and fake news ,
One example is a poster claiming mass graves had been found in parts of east Ukraine and linked to multiple russian news agencies showing fresh piles of dirt with russian soldiers around which apparently contained hundreds of bodies but yet nothing was ever found

Ah yes pretty sure I know exactly which poster you were referring to - and maybe that one would not shock me. I remember the Ukraine thread in particular where that poster was caught lying over and over and over again by one or two US military buff posters (could have been yourself and Manic Moran, at a guess?) and frequently liked to spread the latest fake news stories regarding issues like Brexit and the US election over and over (sure when the mods don't sanction posters for knowingly posting false information, what's the harm?).

I wouldn't be certain if they were a Russian troll though, as opposed to a misled idiot and/or someone desperately seeking attention by way of being contrarian. Boards just makes very little sense as a place to generate much 'spark' from because of the layout... this is more the type of place 4Chan posters like to flood after a particular type of terror attack.

Uboat

Gatling wrote: »

Been pissing them off here off for years now

The only thing you can piss are your pants.

Uboat

Billy86 wrote: »

Such a shame Putin's estimated worth of $200 billion along with the Russian oligarchy have no such access to money.

It's actually 100500 and 200 billion.

Billy86

Uboat wrote: »

It's actually 100500 and 200 billion.

100500?

The $200bn is a number commonly used by those familiar with the country.

Dohnjoe

IIGeminiII wrote: »

Please. Pull the other one. The reason people aren't buying your sob story is because the US [along with their satellite states in Europe] have a long, egregious and historically provable track record of destabilising many, many other countries in basically every continent on the globe by fomenting rebellions, organising stooge candidates, creating false narratives, economic and industrial sabotage, mass murder, targetted assassinations, and everything in between. And you don't have to look back one hundred years, this runs until the present day.

I just predicted this response. We are discussing a current affairs situation in country Y. Yet people have instantly arrived to selectively and emotionally attack country X and it's history (sorry I have to use X and Y because people get too triggered)

They typically label people who disagree with their strong and partisan views as "supporting" country X and will dismiss that which doesn't fit their world view

This thread then becomes about them purely attacking country X (regardless of administration) and diverting from the issue at hand

I am pointing out that examples of Putin bots (from these factories) use a similar flawed methodology, in effect there isn't much difference between the two types of mindsets. They distort and twist debate so that it becomes about country X rather than anything critical of country Y

Political or current affairs discussion of country Y then becomes difficult if not impossible - because these types arrive to specifically malign country X and change the topic

As mentioned many who try to debate with these people are often labeled "sheep" or "pro-country X" or "blind to history", etc - it's actually very similar to debating with conspiracy theorists or fringe anti-government types, anarchists, etc

Want to discuss current affairs or politics regarding country Y? Be prepared for lengthy emotional, passionate, cherry-picked, selective, and/or out-of-context historical attacks on country X and a fixation on perceived hypocrisy (as if these countries are "people" with personalities, instead of different administrations with different policies).. basically turning the debate away from criticism of policy in country Y and projecting it onto an overall emotional attack on country X

So back on topic, it's been suspected that the Kremlin has been directing a disinformation campaign at other countries elections, as more facts come to light, it appears to be true. I remember around the time of the protests in Kiev, the comments section of the Guardian suddenly becoming swamped, 40k comments in one day, it got so bad they had to announce something suspicious was happening and they shut it down for awhile. At the time several commentators were pointing out that it seemed they are being "targeted" by some sort of organised effort. With hindsight, and knowledge of these types of "troll factories" it may very well be true

BuilderPlumber

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Until the last sentence I thought you were going to say “Gatling, for example”.

I mean he’s just mentioned the Soviet Union. That’s gone. Might as well mention the Austria- Hungarian empire when talking about Hungary or Austria.

So let’s stick to the last few years. Has Russia does all this: invaded Iraq? Afghanistan. Destabilised Syria. Overthrown Libya? Helped to destabilise Yemen with its proxy Saudi friends. Does it sabre rattle at China and North Korea, continuously threaten Iran and interfere (as always) in the electoral systems of many countries around the world - supporting rebellions where it can (including Georgia and Ukraine).

America and that tool Netanyahu are responsible for all the above. America's tolerance of Netanyahu shows what hypocrites they are: if he was leader of anywhere else, he'd be removed by America! The whole world is seeing through these idiots. Netanyahu comes out today with this 'Iran is the biggest threat to the world' nonsense. A poor country with a 19th century type army the biggest threat to the world? Surely, the biggest threat to the world is America: America has the biggest arsenal of WMD, is the number one state sponsor of terrorism and has created ALL the current world problems either directly and indirectly. Netanyahu's state is just America's Middle East outpost and America/Netanyahu should apologise to the world instead of preach to it. They should hang their heads in shame. In comparison, Putin is a saint.

Dohnjoe

To illustrate my example, case in point above

Uboat

Dohnjoe wrote: »

So back on topic, it's been suspected that the Kremlin has been directing a disinformation campaign at other countries elections, as more facts come to light, it appears to be true. I remember around the time of the protests in Kiev, the comments section of the Guardian suddenly becoming swamped, 40k comments in one day, it got so bad they had to announce something suspicious was happening and they shut it down for awhile. At the time several commentators were pointing out that it seemed they are being "targeted" by some sort of organised effort. With hindsight, and knowledge of these types of "troll factories" it may very well be true

https://ibb.co/fUr9Y7

Vladimir Poontang

It is sheer ****ing hysteria at this stage. Whatever about the yanks losing their minds, I'd have thought people this side of the pond would have more cop on.