Will the American military intentionally set out to destroy credibility and trust on the social Web? What might be the collateral damage of such a localized, targetted campaign? Quoting from an article by SMT advisor and featured blogger Jonathan Salem Baskin in today's Ad Age.
The military's plan is to enable up to 50 controllers each to manage "sock puppets" -- false online personalities -- and use them to counter pro-extremist content by inserting pro-American content into conversations conducted in Arabic, Farsi, Urdu and Pashto.
U.S. Military Abuses Social Media
Industry Should Disavow and Offer to Do It Right
As you read it try to recall the examples you've witnessed where the slippery slope makes itself known, especially around root social issues like trust, reputation and credibility. Imagine other groups learning from the adventure and deciding to do the same thing.