Breitbart and Infowars Under FBI Investigation?

[woolfe9998]

This story has been floating around for a day or two. McClatchy sources say that part of the FBI investigation into Russian interference is focusing on Breitbart and Infowars among other things. They don't appear to be suspected of hacking, but rather in colluding with Russia in the dissemination of anti-Cltinton propaganda.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article139695453.html

The McClatchy piece and a Maddow segment based on the McClatchy piece explain the Russian's use of social media bots to spread anti-Clinton propaganda. Apparently those bots would provide links to both Russian propaganda sites like RT, but also Breitbart and Infowars, often as part of the same bot spam. Perhaps this is why the FBI is looking into it.

But is botting even a crime? Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with the FBI investigating media outlets, even ones as vile and crackpot as these.

 

[sandorski]

I don't think Botting is the issue. Probably just trying to see if it links to Russian Intelligence. If Breitbart and/or Infowars turned out to be knowingly cooperating with Russian Intelligence, that would be something serious though. I rather doubt they are.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

This story has been floating around for a day or two. McClatchy sources say that part of the FBI investigation into Russian interference is focusing on Breitbart and Infowars among other things. They don't appear to be suspected of hacking, but rather in colluding with Russia in the dissemination of anti-Cltinton propaganda.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article139695453.html

The McClatchy piece and a Maddow segment based on the McClatchy piece explain the Russian's use of social media bots to spread anti-Clinton propaganda. Apparently those bots would provide links to both Russian propaganda sites like RT, but also Breitbart and Infowars, often as part of the same bot spam. Perhaps this is why the FBI is looking into it.

But is botting even a crime? Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with the FBI investigating media outlets, even ones as vile and crackpot as these.

If they were coordinating, given Bannon's obvious ties, it would raise a number of flags at least for Breitbart. Not sure on Infowars how that would tie in. If they were colluding with a foreign government to influence the election I'd hope there would be some measure to hold them accountable to that.

I can't even see Infowars being THAT stupid though...

 

[woolfe9998]

I don't think Botting is the issue. Probably just trying to see if it links to Russian Intelligence. If Breitbart and/or Infowars turned out to be knowingly cooperating with Russian Intelligence, that would be something serious though. I rather doubt they are.

I do wonder about that. One theory is that right wing sites were "useful idiots" for Russian intelligence, who fed them with anti-Clinton fake news, and the sites did not know, or question, where they were coming from. This is quite possible.

But the far right, not just in the US, but also in Europe, is naturally aligned with Russia and Putin because the far right is intensely nationalistic and anti-globalist. Putin wants an end to the EU and NATO, and a return to the power politics of the 19th and early 20th centuries, for obvious reasons. The western far right plays right into that agenda. So I have to wonder if this collusion extends beyond Trump and his campaign, and if so, how far beyond?

 

[Atreus21]

This story has been floating around for a day or two. McClatchy sources say that part of the FBI investigation into Russian interference is focusing on Breitbart and Infowars among other things. They don't appear to be suspected of hacking, but rather in colluding with Russia in the dissemination of anti-Cltinton propaganda.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article139695453.html

The McClatchy piece and a Maddow segment based on the McClatchy piece explain the Russian's use of social media bots to spread anti-Clinton propaganda. Apparently those bots would provide links to both Russian propaganda sites like RT, but also Breitbart and Infowars, often as part of the same bot spam. Perhaps this is why the FBI is looking into it.

But is botting even a crime? Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with the FBI investigating media outlets, even ones as vile and crackpot as these.

Agree. Linking to RT is stupid, not criminal.

 

[cytg111]

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/60yh2f/us_officials_info_suggests_trump_associates_may/
https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/843985158499942400

As i've said before, i never understood why breitbart had Russian search engine tags in its code.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Agree. Linking to RT is stupid, not criminal.

Its tough to have an opinion without specific's
Like knowingly linking to a fake story is different than taking a bribe from Russia to link to a knowingly fake story.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Its tough to have an opinion without specific's
Like knowingly linking to a fake story is different than taking a bribe from Russia to link to a knowingly fake story.

In this case it looks like the allegation is they embedded specific code into the site so the Russian bots specifically could hook them and distribute.

 

[IronWing]

Private websites paid to carry water for Putin? <shrug>
Same folks do that when they go into government? Hang them.

 

[hal2kilo]

But is botting even a crime? Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with the FBI investigating media outlets, even ones as vile and crackpot as these.

I agree, the 4th estate for me is the basis of our democracy from the beginning.

 

[BurnItDwn]

infowars and breitbart under investigation?
Seriously?
They may as well investigate "The Onion"!

 

[Fern]

I don't think Botting is the issue. Probably just trying to see if it links to Russian Intelligence. If Breitbart and/or Infowars turned out to be knowingly cooperating with Russian Intelligence, that would be something serious though. I rather doubt they are.

I don't see how that's illegal. Is it now illegal to speak with Russians? It sure seems the Left feels that way.

If it's illegal for Breitbart and infowars to communicate or collude with the Russia, how the hell has RT (USA corp) not been busted?

All this Russian fear mongering is insane.

Fern

 

[ivwshane]

I don't see how that's illegal. Is it now illegal to speak with Russians? It sure seems the Left feels that way.

If it's illegal for Breitbart and infowars to communicate or collude with the Russia, how the hell has RT (USA corp) not been busted?

All this Russian fear mongering is insane.

Fern

I didn't see the word illegal anywhere in his post. Perhaps you could bold everything he said so that you might not make up straw man arguments.

 

[Thebobo]

I may be insane but I am not fear mongering. There is just waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much russian hobnobbery going on in Tump land.

I believe Russia has something over Trump I believe the Russian dossier to be true. About 1/3 of it has been corroborated so far. Why did the British Spy disappear after it came out, he fears for his life. People in Russia with ties to all of this have been falling out of apartment buildings and disappearing lately.

Oh and another prominent critic of Putin was just murdered.

Key Dem points to evidence of collusion between Russia, Team Trump

But on MSNBC yesterday afternoon, the California Democrat again talked to Chuck Todd, and this time he took another step forward when describing the nature of the evidence.

TODD: But you admit, all you have right now is a circumstantial case?

SCHIFF: Actually, no, Chuck. I can tell you that the case is more than that. And I can’t go into the particulars, but there is more than circumstantial evidence now. So, again, I think -

TODD: You have seen direct evidence of collusion?

SCHIFF: I don’t to want go into specifics, but I will say that there is evidence that is not circumstantial, and it very much worthy of investigation. So, that is what we ought to do.

When we contacted the congressman’s office, asking if Schiff may have misspoken, and giving him a chance to walk this back, his office said Schiff meant what he said.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/key-dem-points-evidence-collusion-between-russia-team-trump

 

[cytg111]

mercer bannon breitbart in joined effort with russian *something* to subvert the democratic process through fake news, fud and hacks, bannon ending up in the WH may not be illegal... why the hell isnt it though?

 

[Thebobo]

It should be. He wants to tear america down

 

[cytg111]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason

Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as a "citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]". In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aiding or involved by such an endeavor.

I see a little wiggle room there, it could work.

 

[ivwshane]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason



I see a little wiggle room there, it could work.

I would soooo love if those sites and their owners/operators were charged with treason under a Republican presidency and Republican house. It would expose the right for what they are, traitors and hopefully would end their hold/influence on Republicans.

 

[Fern]

I didn't see the word illegal anywhere in his post. Perhaps you could bold everything he said so that you might not make up straw man arguments.

He said "serious".

IDK what serious could mean if not illegal. shrug.

Fern

 

[ivwshane]

He said "serious".

IDK what serious could mean if not illegal. shrug.

Fern

Because in your world everything is black or white. Got it.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/60yh2f/us_officials_info_suggests_trump_associates_may/
https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/843985158499942400

As far as I can tell, all that does is allow indexing by Yandex, which is the leading Russian search engine. Increasing ad revenue by making your website known to other markets doesn't make you a Russian plant.

 

[fskimospy]

I don't see how that's illegal. Is it now illegal to speak with Russians? It sure seems the Left feels that way.

If it's illegal for Breitbart and infowars to communicate or collude with the Russia, how the hell has RT (USA corp) not been busted?

All this Russian fear mongering is insane.

Fern

I haven't heard the FBI charging anyone with anything, so no.

I'm sure you DO agree though that we need a great deal more investigation of the Trump administration and its ties to Russia given the amount of perjury and lies that has already been uncovered, right?

 

[cytg111]

As far as I can tell, all that does is allow indexing by Yandex, which is the leading Russian search engine. Increasing ad revenue by making your website known to other markets doesn't make you a Russian plant.

Thats why I linked the reddit discussion as well, this is the angle I was getting at :

(by anon902503)

It's parsable metadata that can be used by outside services (usually a search engine) to understand and index the content.

In this case, I think the allegation is that it was utilized to provide a hook for Russian social media bots to pull Breitbart content into their bot posting. That would imply that Breitbart collaborated with Russian intelligence to give them this hook.

 

[sandorski]

He said "serious".

IDK what serious could mean if not illegal. shrug.

Fern

It wouldn't be serious?

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Thats why I linked the reddit discussion as well, this is the angle I was getting at :

(by anon902503)

Does "the hook" mean the code? Because a quick Google shows many results offering the exact same code to be added to websites desiring indexing by Yandex, Russian intelligence was certainly not necessary.

fwiw, from what Archive.org is telling me, the Yandex bit was added on March 31st 2016, which could be conducive with the Russian interference theory:

https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20160331210419/http://www.breitbart.com/