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Western spy agencies build cyber magicians to manipulate online discourse

Published time: February 25, 2014 03:40 Edited time: February 26, 2014 16:35 Get short URL

Satellite dishes are seen at GCHQ's outpost at Bude, close to where trans-Atlantic fibre-optic cables come ashore in Cornwall, southwest England (Reuters/Kieran Doherty) Secret units within the 'Five Eyes" global spying network engage in covert online operations that aim to invade, deceive, and control online communities and individuals through the spread of false information and use of ingenious social-science tactics. Trends
NSA leaks

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Anonymous , Hacking, Intelligence, Internet , Snowden, UK , USA

Such teams of highly trained professionals have several main objectives, such as to inject all sorts of false material onto the internet and to use social sciences and other techniques to manipulate online discourse and activism to generate outcomes it considers desirable, The Intercepts Glenn Greenwald reported based on intelligence documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The new information comes via a document from the Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group (JTRIG) of Britains Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), entitled 'The Art of Deception: Training for Online Covert Operations,' which is top secret and only for dissemination within the Five Eyes intelligence partnership that includes Britain, the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Image from firstlook.org The document outlines what tactics are used to achieve JTRIGs main objectives. Among those tactics that seek to discredit a target include false flag operations (posting material online that is falsely attributed to a target), fake victim blog posts (writing as a victim of a target to disseminate false information), and posting negative information wherever pertinent online. Other discrediting tactics used against individuals include setting a "honey-trap" (using sex to lure targets into compromising situations), changing a target's photo on a social media site, and emailing or texting "colleagues, neighbours, friends etc." To "discredit a company," GCHQ may "leak confidential information to companies/the press via blog...post negative information on appropriate forums [or] stop deals/ruin business relationships." JTRIG's ultimate purpose, as defined by GCHQ in the document, is to use "online techniques to make something happen in the real world or cyber world." These online covert actions follow the 4 D's: deny, disrupt, degrade, deceive.

Image from firstlook.org As Greenwald pointed out, the tactics employed by JTRIG are not used for spying on other nations, militaries, or intelligence services, but for traditional law enforcement against those merely suspected of crimes. These targets can include members of Anonymous, hacktivists, or really any person or entity GCHQ deems worthy of antagonizing. [I]t is not difficult to see how dangerous it is to have secret government agencies being able to target any individuals they want who have never been charged with, let alone convicted of, any crimes with these sorts of online, deception-based tactics of reputation destruction and disruption, Greenwald wrote. In addition, the targets do not need to have ties to terror activity or pose any national security threat. More likely, targets seem to fall closer to political activists that may have, for instance, used denial of service tactics, popular with Anonymous and hacktivists, which usually do only a limited amount of damage to a target.

Image from firstlook.org These surveillance agencies have vested themselves with the power to deliberately ruin peoples reputations and disrupt their online political activity even though theyve been charged with no crimes, and even though their actions have no conceivable connection to terrorism or even national security threats, Greenwald wrote. In addition to the personal attacks on targets, JTRIG also involves the use of psychological and socialscience tactics to steer online activism and discourse. The document details GCHQs Human Science Operations Cell, which focuses on online human intelligence and strategic influence and disruption that are used to dissect how targets can be manipulated using leaders, trust, obedience, and compliance. Using tested manipulation tactics, JTRIG attempts to influence discourse and ultimately sow discord through deception. When reached for comment by The Intercept, GCHQ avoided answering pointed questions on JTRIG while insisting its methods were legal. It is a longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters. Furthermore, all of GCHQs work is carried out in accordance with a strict legal and policy framework which ensures that our activities are authorized, necessary and proportionate, and that there is rigorous oversight, including from the Secretary of State, the Interception and Intelligence Services Commissioners and the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee. All our operational processes rigorously support this position, GCHQ stated.

Image from firstlook.org

Comments (171)
mergon 27.02.2014 12:35
There is a reason why those dishes are put up high and out of reach . But some people have found a way to scramble the info that comes into the dish ,some of the the government depts know this . The tools are simple and and do it remotely and there are only 2 parts to it , when things get worse details will be released .

Terence Atkinson 27.02.2014 10:15

This article is deeply disturbing. I see the ability to change public opinion on a person, using false information, as Orwellian and a direct attack on human rights. I find it very hard to believe that governments elected by the people and, for the people, see this as acceptable and in the best interests of the people. In addition "traditional law enforcement" requires transparency, evidence and a conviction from peers, who decides if their actions are just!

Ricky Bartlett 27.02.2014 01:37

Revolution Time Is Upon us.

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