Re:Parler is back online now by routing 100% traffic through...
by ryan_j_naughton on Monday January 18, 2021 @10:26PM
(#25829664)
From the end of the cold war until 2014, I don't think Americans thought much about Russia.
Then when Putin invaded Ukraine and then hacked the 2016 US election, his interference in the West and specifically our democratic institutions (which were considered somewhat sacred to many Americans), the threat of a Russia became much more present in Americans' consciousness.
Thus, I don't think it is without cause. Also, the Mueller investigation and then Ukraine extortion impeachment trial both brought Russia into our daily thoughts.
That being said, this news isn't anything specific to being Russophobic. Instead, it is more about how it would be naive to think that the website being hosted outside America makes it inherent that the NSA will hack it. Parler being hosted in Russia means Russian intelligence will certainly have an easier time surveiling a site that was certainly already a target. Both of these intelligence agencies hacking and surveiling Americans without any due process is concerning regardless of which political party you belong to. Russia will certainly use any information it learns to aid its agents in the US in further manipulating the Republican party. And the NSA, even if it has less nefarious motives, still will be conducting such surveillance without any judicial oversight. Thus, I don't think this amounts to an obsession with Russia as much as a valid concern and topic of discussion.
Then when Putin invaded Ukraine and then hacked the 2016 US election, his interference in the West and specifically our democratic institutions (which were considered somewhat sacred to many Americans), the threat of a Russia became much more present in Americans' consciousness.
Thus, I don't think it is without cause. Also, the Mueller investigation and then Ukraine extortion impeachment trial both brought Russia into our daily thoughts.
That being said, this news isn't anything specific to being Russophobic. Instead, it is more about how it would be naive to think that the website being hosted outside America makes it inherent that the NSA will hack it. Parler being hosted in Russia means Russian intelligence will certainly have an easier time surveiling a site that was certainly already a target. Both of these intelligence agencies hacking and surveiling Americans without any due process is concerning regardless of which political party you belong to. Russia will certainly use any information it learns to aid its agents in the US in further manipulating the Republican party. And the NSA, even if it has less nefarious motives, still will be conducting such surveillance without any judicial oversight. Thus, I don't think this amounts to an obsession with Russia as much as a valid concern and topic of discussion.