“It doesn’t matter if it’s foreign or domestic trolls. It’s a problem,” internet security expert says
A Langford internet security expert says Russian troll activity on Victorian social media is not impossible but unlikely.
Trolls can come from anywhere, and there is no significant difference between domestic trolls and those coming from Russia.
“I think the local scene is probably just really passionate people in the community,” said Brandon Laur, CEO of White Hatter. “They’re trying to stoke panic, worry and disinformation. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a foreign troll or a domestic troll. That’s a problem.”
Evidence suggests that the disproportionate focus on Russian trolls is not unfounded, as similar troll disruptions have occurred in the past. However, this is a much bigger issue than just one country doing this.
“I think there’s a psychological component to focusing on foreign influence, but there’s just as much domestic influence as there is foreign influence,” Lauer said
It can be challenging to determine if you’re dealing with a troll or just an enthusiastic person, but there are some signs you can look for, such as profiles with links to family history and photos.
“I think those accounts are more or less worthy of being uplifted and listened to and responded to, but those are the accounts that are just posting memes. They’re not the first accounts I want to respond to.”
Trolls’ motivations can vary. Some people may be trying to annoy you and make fun of you for fun, Lauer said, or they may be trying to influence public opinion.
“The passions on both our sides can get very intense. You can interact with the community and they may adopt a mob mentality.”
Tracking down a person or a troll is difficult for the general public as they require the necessary tools. However, Lauer said it may be helpful to check the account history and other information they posted.
“If you know where to look, there are clues that can help you have a greater degree of confirmation or denial of whether someone is who they say they are.”
He said trolls who are forum moderators could be banned from platforms such as Reddit and Facebook. Establishing clear rules and community guidelines can help mitigate the damage caused by these trolls.
When it comes to bad behavior on the Internet, such as malicious attacks, its behavior must be divided into three different categories.
“Are they being mean? Are they just being a farce? Or are they breaking the law?”
If someone breaks the law, offenses under the Criminal Code can be pursued through law enforcement. If someone is causing drama, be sure to refer to your Community Guidelines.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used to combat social media trolls. However, Lauer said there is an ongoing struggle between those trying to combat misinformation and those trying to spread it.
“It’s a tug of war now because we have the tools to combat malicious attacks and misinformation. At the same time, those who engage in troll-like behavior are also using artificial intelligence,” Lauer said.
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