The United States on Friday released a U.S. intelligence assessment sent to more than 100 countries that found Moscow is using spies, social media and Russian state-run media to erode public faith in the integrity of democratic elections worldwide.

The United States on Friday released a U.S. intelligence assessment sent to more than 100 countries that found Moscow is using spies, social media and Russian state-run media to erode public faith in the integrity of democratic elections worldwide.

“This is a global phenomenon,” said the assessment. “Our information indicates that senior Russian government officials, including the Kremlin, see value in this type of influence operation and perceive it to be effective.”

A senior State Department official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Russia was encouraged to intensify its election influence operations by its success in amplifying disinformation about the 2020 U.S. election and the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • bobs_monkey@lemm.eeEnglish
    181·
    1 year ago

    Dude I’m not denying any of those are fucked up and outside of what our constitution provides for under freedom of speech, assembly, and press (many reporters were also arrested and had their footage destroyed). My point is that, despite these absolute abominations by the ruling class, the average person does not live under a constant state of surveillance and oppression in the same way that those in N Korea, Myanmar, Russia, China, etc do. Sure all of our online activity, communications, and movements are monitored, at least passively in a database, but unless we are actively causing major amounts of trouble we likely won’t have the good squad breaking down our doors and hauling us off for saying “fuck the government” online. It could be so, so much worse (and quite possibly could get there in our lifetimes, if we keep being apathetic about the state of our country).

    • spiderplant@lemm.eeEnglish
      311·
      1 year ago

      There is no such thing as passive surveillance if all surveillance data can be automatically flagged or you have an army of agents trawling through it all. Both things America is doing.

      Saying fuck the US government online probably puts US citizens as well as global citizens on lists.

      America is notorious for embedding into and destroying movements. This happens to this day.

      Also hate to break it to you, if you’re in the US you’re physical movements are also most likely tracked.

      It’s pure cope to say you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide as you just did.

      • UNWILLING_PARTICIPANTEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        You both agree on the fundamentals, you just draw the line at what you’re calling a “true” police state. This argument is unproductive.

        • spiderplant@lemm.eeEnglish
          38·
          1 year ago

          This comment is unproductive.

          We do disagree on a fundamental fact, that America is a police state.

          bobs_monkey hypocritically excuses american actions when they would use the same actions committed by non aligned states as evidence that they are police states.

          Countering this narrative is productive to my goal, even if I don’t convince bobs_monkey. It doesn’t let what is essentially american propaganda go unchallenged for future readers.

      • SCB@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21·
        1 year ago

        Saying fuck the US government online probably puts US citizens as well as global citizens on lists

        God I wish I was the person selling you the tinfoil for your hats.