PSYOP Watch: BAN TELEGRAM
CW: This is going to be difficult material
Hey all,
I’m going to do a livestream digging down into the worst depths of Telegram at 2PM today, Sunday 7/31.
I will give warnings and blur out anything extreme, but I want to give people who want to understand what we’re up against an opportunity to be informed. Simply put, Telegram is a massive, free-to-use cult hosting operation. There are hundreds of millions of people getting brainwashed all day long on this app and it represents a large percentage of the ongoing radicalization of Americans.
If you feel comfortable with difficult material, please join me. Apple and Google must BAN TELEGRAM. I need as many voices understanding that as possible.
Also, I really do think I have my audio sorted this time. The only things I can promise are that 1) I will make more mistakes, and 2) it will keep getting better as I get practice. Thanks for bearing with me. 💙🙏
"Alternative social network platforms like Telegram that have become central to how disinformation spreads will not be part of a revamped online rule book to be published by the European Commission on Thursday, according to three EU officials and another individual directly involved in the upcoming announcement."
"The so-called code of practice on disinformation, a voluntary set of principles the likes of Facebook, Google and Twitter signed up to in 2018, has been rewritten to compel these social media giants to make more data available to outsiders, commit themselves to stop online falsehoods from making money via advertising, and pledge to enact a litany of other measures that Brussels will oversee."
"But the new rule book, which will come into force in early 2023, will not apply to scores of relatively new and unregulated social media platforms that have garnered millions of new users in recent years, after these companies did not sign up." https://www.politico.eu/article/european-commission-disinformation-code/
"Both Islamic and far-right extremists have used Telegram channels to disseminate propaganda they use to advance their political agendas. Among the most harmful types of such communication is what’s known as “propaganda by the deed” or “propaganda of the deed.”
"Propaganda by the deed is an old tactic dating to anarchists in late 19th century Europe that glorifies specific actions. Acts of terror committed by ISIS, for example, were exalted by extremists as the most meritorious acts individuals could commit to advance the cause of Islam. These acts were used not only to terrorize Western society, but also to inspire further attacks among Islamic extremists. "
"In another instance, the founder and leader of the alleged neo-Nazi group The Base used Telegram recently to post letters of commendation showing he once worked in intelligence analysis for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and in the U.S. Marine Corps."
"Before the FBI arrested Edward Lang, one of the self-proclaimed “patriots” who stormed Capitol Hill and proclaimed the riot the “Second American Revolution,” he had utilized the Telegram platform in the 10 days following Jan. 6 to try to organize far-right paramilitary members into further acts of insurrection and revolt against the incoming Biden administration. In that sense, it seems to be the American version of the “propaganda of the deed” tactic used by the Islamic State only a few years ago."
Amplifying Political Agendas
"Telegram channels are also utilized to amplify political agendas. Since the post-Jan. 6 shutout of Parler by Amazon, Apple and Google (it has since resurfaced with another web hosting service), an increasing number of pro-Trump channels are cropping up in Telegram. As a result, the verified channel of Donald Trump Jr. as well as Donald Trump’s unverified channel, both have 1 million subscribers now." https://www.justsecurity.org/74947/telegram-a-growing-social-media-refuge-for-good-and-ill/