AlJazeera reports that US military is currently developing software that will allow military personnel to create multiple fake online identities with a mission of going into chat rooms and online forums to spread “pro-American messages.”
Critics call it propaganda or “systemized lying”, while the Pentagon calls it “countering violent, extremist and enemy ideology outside the US.”
Right now it is still uncertain how effective it will be and how success or failure can be measured. There is also the legal issue of military using fake personas within the US but the government assures the system will not be used in the country but in the Middle East and South East Asia.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.