MNHQ - do you think that there were Russian trolls operating on Mumsnet during the Brexit debates?

[kalapattar]

Given the recent indictment in the US?

Do you think there were posters deliberately trying to spread misinformation, promote certain messages etc who were based in the Russian Internet Research agency?

We've just had a thread, now deleted, when the loony raving OP didn't even know how Southern Ireland was called.

If that wasn't a Russian troll (or a close equivalent) I'll eat my hat.

Totally agreed Lweji.

I doubt it, they are only interested in trump because he's so stupid and easy to manipulate

although thinking about we seem to be now as a nation so who knows

I think we're due another influx.

They're very irritating. I know that's the point - the aim is to make any debate so frustrating and shit that it makes debate possible - but it's frustrating to acknowledge that it is very effective.

'it makes debate impossible.

The problem of contamination by Russian "help" is really bothering me.

We're seeing it in the US at the moment.

The White House daren't investigate or even Russian interference because it thinks (knows?) it benefitted from it.

Republican politicians daren't acknowledge Russian interference because they believe they benefitted from it.

A failed Democratic candidate, Bernie Sanders, is avoiding questions much about Russian interference because there's now evidence Russia tried to "benefit" him.

So Russia gets to simultaneously interfere in elections and have the government in the country it attacked cover up for it. Highly successful for Russia; deeply crap for the country on the receiving end.

I'm extremely concerned this will happen in the UK as well.

A poll where Russia may have interfered was Brexit, which was cross-party, and we don't yet have a refusal to acknowledge by the governing party here. And I've been really encouraged by the co-operative work of the cross-party DCMS Commons committee investigating fake news, which yesterday was questioning Alexander Nix of Cambridge Analytica.

But it's critical we maintain that ecumenical attitude to defence.

Because as soon as a party/faction comes into government in the UK that believes it owes anything to any foreign power (which could be China or other countries), then that party will try to deny the "help" – and stymie investigations and defensive measures for fear of losing its position in government .

Many non-Trump Republicans are demonstrating this only too clearly right now.

There are also many changes Russia (or any other interfering power) can ring on contamination.

Even if their interference was not material to the governing party's win, they can persuade the governing party it was. Play the Murdoch – "Pander to us or we'll withdraw support, or even support the other guys."

If a party gets in which Russia (or whoever) doesn't like, Russia can pretend to have supported that party – and undermine the legitimacy of the win.

The only defence against it is going to be a united front, where no one is scared to say, "A foreign power is trying to weigh in, in our favour. We acknowledge it, and repudiate it." Like all blackmail, it's only really effective when there's a secret.

I suspect it's not only Russian interference some parties or candidates are worried about. They will be worried about people poking their noses at how their campaigns are run and financed. Pretty much all of them.

Yep, I really don't anticipate it being limited to Russia. That's just the example we're seeing playing out big time at the moment.

Apologies for earlier typo. Sentence should read:
The White House daren't investigate or even acknowledge Russian interference because it thinks (knows?) it benefitted from it.