[2] HBGary was contracted by the USG to build a tool that is "creating an army of sockpuppets, with sophisticated "persona management" software that allows a small team of only a few people to appear to be many, while keeping the personas from accidentally cross-contaminating each other. Then, to top it off, the team can actually automate some functions so one persona can appear to be an entire Brooks Brothers riot online."
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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/nov/20/mondaymediasec...
[2] HBGary was contracted by the USG to build a tool that is "creating an army of sockpuppets, with sophisticated "persona management" software that allows a small team of only a few people to appear to be many, while keeping the personas from accidentally cross-contaminating each other. Then, to top it off, the team can actually automate some functions so one persona can appear to be an entire Brooks Brothers riot online."
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2231471
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/mar/17/us-spy-op...