this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2023
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The Times unraveled a financial network that stretches from Chicago to Shanghai and uses American nonprofits to push Chinese talking points worldwide.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 year ago (2 children)

No, but it's scummy as fuck, and it's interesting that an American is pushing Chinese talking points.

I think people are pretty well aware at this point that social engineering, on a macroscale, is extremely effective at changing people's views (albeit slowly). Look at what happened with Qanon, look how many people supported that. That was the dumbest thing I've ever seen, and people are STILL backing it even after it's been proven to not only be a sham, but run by a pedophile out of Southeast Asia. Imagine the damage that can be done by a disinformation or social engineering campaign backed by one of the largest nations in the world.

We are currently in a culture war - the implications of it could change everyone's lives in the next couple of decades if we aren't careful.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Doesn’t the U.S. do this in other countries? If America does it, and it’s not illegal, why can’t China? Weird that they didn’t mention that it’s legal in the article, right?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No one said they can’t. But we can and should call out propaganda for what it is. Especially when it comes from authoritarian, genocidal, despotic governments.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This exchange reminds me of a key and peele sketch. Not illegal, but perfectly fine to admonish china for doing the thing that the us is constantly being admonished for, mx. Whataboutism.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

K&P are funny. It definitely is whataboutism. And China shouldn’t do it. But The NY Times fails to mention that it’s not illegal and other countries do this too. Is that good journalism?

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Its the NYT's when on the last 10-15 years have they been anything close to "journalists"?

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

But democracy dies in darkness. /s

Edit: That’s the Washington Post.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s scummy when the US does it.

It’s scummy when China does it.

I hope I could help you understand.

I also would love to talk about anything China without someone coming up with the Yankees. JFC.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would like to learn more about what the U.S does to compete in the propaganda space. I worry about the fundamentally reduced agility in responding to competing powers that are much more centralized.

As far as I can tell, private industry leads American interest and since the private ownership is still spread amongst these individuals owners, there doesn't seem to be a coordinated drive to spread propaganda without a more direct linkage to profit. However in other countries with more centralized power the national power can dictate the messaging and then private companies follow suit, which allows for a much more coordinated effort.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You are completely and utterly correct. America can’t compete. While China has 5 and 50 year plans, America is rudderless (discounting the military). Our goals change every 2 to 4 years with new administrations. This is one of the reasons I believe America will inevitably go fascist and centralize control of the government in the coming years. It can’t compete with China’s economy and outreach. So it will adapt by imitation.