Untwisting Reality

The Digital Sabotage

• By Poetry X
• 5 February, 2019
• No Comments

On face of the evident fail of main stream media informing people, we are in the situation of relying on alternative ways to get “informed.” We know people don’t use social media to get news, but it is clear people at the end get their conceptions of the world in a big part by what they see others sharing on the digital space [RollingStone].

If you have paid attention, you can see what you get fed in the digital world is based on your taste and even your location. In fact, Facebook uses algorithms which are primarily based on your emotions [NYtimes]. However, logarithms are not as random as we could think they are. The main purpose of these logarithms is to entertained and reinforce users’ conception and specially users’ prejudices. Even Netflex controls its content based on algorithms.

Nevertheless, when it comes to relevant events of the day, this logarithm are totally ignored and all streams are redirected to an stablished agenda. One case in point, after the Facebook “scandal” sharing post paid by entities from Rusia on the last US elections, the Weekly Standard of Bill Crystal was put to control “fake news” in FaceBook. In addition, the Atlantic Council is also in charge of controlling “fake news”, on whose board you’ll find people like Henry Kissinger, former CIA chief Michael Hayden, former CIA head Michael Morell and former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff – all of them chronic right wing actors. In fact, these measures resulted in Facebook removing 800 “controversial” accounts and pages . We must mention, all of those groups removed, had previously been targeted in a blacklist of oppositional sites promoted by the Washington Post [WSWS]. We must note, in order to sensor all of this content on Twitter, Facebook and youtube, the first target was Alex Jones, in a way that people would complain due to the opposition that this character  generates on ordinary people. Now, to make matters worse, on the verge a war agains Venezuela, twitter erased 2000 accounts in favor of Maduro [TeleSur].

Aside of interest groups behind what is tolerated on social media, we must know, the US agencies are heavily involved in spy operations manipulating social media. Indeed, FaceBook, Instragram, Twitter have proven to be weapons of massive use in the intervention in Brazil and Venezuela. All of these tools were relevant in taking down president Dilma, imposing Bolsonaro, and as always, in destabilizing Venezuela. No doubt, the case in point of the day is when on January 2019, all revenant social media were synchronized with the US government to put an extreme right wing figure as the US hand picked presidente of Venezuela, ignoring the democratically elected Nicolas Maduro – elected with 67% of the vote on 2018.

Social media has the power of giving of establishing the perception of acceptance and popularity, and by now we know companies sell services that make social account look like have massive fellowship [BBC]. Just for a minor example, right wing Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, has bought tens of thousands of followers and retweets [NYtimes].

Another prominent case of digital media manipulation is Youtube which has taken into the crusade job of demonetizing any “controversial” content to the US geo political agenda. In fact, YouTube has admits not notifying subscribers of those controversial accounts [TJDS]. To make matters worse, even payment sites such as PayPal and Patreon have entered into this sabotage of alternative media outlets denying them access to fan funding.

Now, even a sources that many consider reliable such as Wikipedia, has proven to be extremely biased agains left figures such as George Galloway, Jeremy Corbyn, Glen Greenwald, Seymour Hersh among many others [OnContact]. In addition, Podcast platforms have an extremely biased way of making content reachable. For example, Ivoox, the most popular Spanish podcast platform, on its home page, it primarily promotes self help content and related material. On the second categories you have mystery podcasts, sports and political programs. However, the political content promoted by ivoox is pretty much right wing propaganda with the goal of slandering Venezuela and all left leaning governments.

The First Amendment states the protection of free speech. However, it doesn’t address what Facebook, Google, YouTube and Twitter can do as private companies, enforcing their terms of service. On the face that main stream media has totally sided the plutocracy, many think social media is a much better option, but as we find who is behind, we realize we are being manipulated in a more effective way by interest groups.