Tumblr blames Russian trolls spreading “misinformation”

These headlines are to the point of being “What You See is All There Is” (WYSIATI) propaganda.

In reality, everyone from everywhere has been spreading misinformation on social media. But by repeatedly framing the problem as “Russia” connected propaganda, people are influenced to draw a conclusion based on the idea that this is the sum total of the story. This conveniently leaves out all of the numerous others involved in doing this.

Source: Tumblr Removed 84 Accounts Linked to Russian Trolls and IRA | Fortune

“No, it wasn’t always on our money!”

TL;DR Summary

• The phrase “In God We Trust wasn’t always on our money” states the propaganda poster.
• This poster is both true and false, depending on how you define “money”.
• It has been on some coins since 1909, for example.
• The goal of the poster was to argue about separation of state and church (we think). It works due to (a) a true assertion, and (b) “What you see is all there is” and the viewer is not aware that the phrase was on other forms of currency before appearing on the one dollar bill.

Washington Post’s “Russian hacking” fake news story falls apart

TL;DR Summary

• Washington Post writers Juliet Eilperin and Adam Entous publish a news story titled “Russian hackers penetrated U.S. electricity grid through a utility in Vermont“.
• This story is shared widely on social media, in part from social media promotion by Washington Post staff, and is quickly re-printed and re-published nationwide relying on the fear created by the headline.
• The headline is false and ultimately the entire story is shown to be false.
  
• The Washington Post silently rewrote the headline and added an “Editor’s note” at the bottom (later moved to the top). The Editor’s note itself left out critical information.
• The electric utility involved, Burlington Electric, issued a statement condemning the false and untrue statements made: “Media reports stating that Burlington Electric was hacked or that the electric grid was breached are false.”
  
• What actually occurred was a lap top connected to an IP address which is thought to be connected with malware but which is also used for other applications.  The electric grid was not hacked. There was no evidence that this involved anyone from Russia. A statement from Burlington Electric states  there was no malware on the laptop computer.
• Update: The Washington Post has effectively retracted the original story: “Russian government hackers do not appear to have targeted Vermont utility, say people close to investigation“
• Update: Cnet tech news all but says the story was false or fake.
• Update: Snopes says the story is mostly false.
• Research shows most people only read the headline and viral stories on social media live on forever, even when wrong.
• Update: Part of the reason this story was readily accepted by the masses is likely the mistaken view that all communications is connected to the Internet. Utility grid systems do have security vulnerabilities (notably SCADA and PLCs) but utilities run their own private networks, independent of the Internet. That means separate fiber cables and private microwave links. This is also known as an “air gap” – there is not a physical connection between the grid networks and the public Internet.That does not mean they are immune from malware attacks. Notably the U.S. itself attacked systems in Iran by delivering the malware on a USB thumbdrive, which someone plugged into a computer on the secure side of the “air gap”.

  This story works as social media propaganda, in part, because of the “What you see is all there is” problem – the reader fills in the missing gaps to make the narrative fit the reader’s world model. Since computer security is opaque to the typical person, many may believe that the utility grid can be readily hacked over the Internet.

• Update: The Washington Post intentionally spread this story on social media, gaining rapid shares to “go viral”  and then tried to cover their tracks. Spreading stories on social media with emotionally intense headlines to encourage sharing was pioneered by fake news publishers.
• Update: The Washington Post failed again, days later, says Time magazine. The WaPo also failed two weeks earlier with their story naming fake news web sites based on a list provided by a shady and anonymous source; WaPo largely retracted the claims after being accused of defaming legitimate news sources. There seems to be a trend underway…
• Update: The US government intelligence agency report on alleged Russian hacking notes itself that it was based on  news reports and social media posts for “key judgements”:
  

Fake news: Anonymously sourced social media as the basis for news reports

This “news” report is based on an anonymously authored social media account:

While the American media and leaders in Washington, D.C., wonder if Vladimir Putin’s government played dirty tricks to get Donald Trump elected, rich Russian youngsters have better things to worry about.

Like expensive cars, bubble baths, jewelry, private jets — and showing it off on social media for the world to see.

An anonymous Instagram account called RichRussianKids is still providing glimpses of the opulent lifestyle of “minigarchs,” or offspring of Russia’s wealthy elite.

Source: ‘Rich Russian Kids’ on Instagram shows wealth of spoiled youngsters – SFGate

The SFGate’s story is based on quoting a report in the Daily Mail, which in turn, is sourced to an anonymous social media account. Which may be intended as a satire.

Face palm moment.

The very definition of “FAKE NEWS”. Pointless story, based on anonymous posts on social media. On the web site “front page” of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Was Omaha Deaf Student Bullied and his backpack thrown in a toilet?

TL; DR Summary

• The backpack belonging to a deaf student was thrown into a toilet.
• When we see this headline, we immediately envision students harassing a deaf student, stealing his backpack and throwing it in a toilet.
• This story has been widely shared on Facebook as an illustration of bullying behavior; indeed, bullying behavior against a deaf student.
• Except that is not what happened. Instead, this is a beautifully crafted story whose emotional bait successfully hooks all of us, so we like and share.
• Emotional bait is a highly effective means of propaganda dissemination. In this example, suggesting a deaf student was bullied serves the promotional interests of those wishing to convey a message about school bullying (even though such bullying did not occur here). When you see news – or FB posts – note how many use emotional contexts to “bait” you in to reading and sharing, even though the story may not be important in a larger context.

The back pack had been inadvertently left on a lunch room table. Two students picked up and promptly did something stupid – they tossed it in a toilet. However, the students did not know the backpack belonged to a deaf student.