Social Media Targeted by Pentagon for “Strategic Communication”

Earlier this week Old-Thinker News reported on statements made by Pentagon contractor and “perception manager” John Rendon regarding the manipulation of internet content algorithms with the intent to “shape belief sets.” In further revelations, the Pentagon has unveiled on Thursday a project developed by DARPA that will utilize social media as an information warfare tool.

As Wired Magazine reports, “The Pentagon is looking to build a tool to sniff out social media propaganda campaigns and spit some counter-spin right back at it.” The report issued by DARPA titled “Social Media in Strategic Communication (SMISC)” is available online here.

Among other things, the project will “Detect, classify, measure and track the (a) formation, development and spread of ideas and concepts (memes), and (b) purposeful or deceptive messaging and misinformation.” In response, the Pentagon will engage in “Counter messaging of detected adversary influence operations.”

What will the Pentagon consider “…deceptive messaging and misinformation”?