Global Business Trolling
The global business trolling industry has been flourishing for many years. The main characteristics of this industry include the state-sponsored trolling, the thriving underground trolling industry, and the social-technical networks that allow and feed the trolling.
Social-technical networks that allow and feed trolling
Trolling is a form of antisocial behavior that takes place on social-technical networks. Various forms of trolling, including online harassment and cyberbullying, can be harmful to a community. This study explores the characteristics of "trolls," namely, their motivations and their impact on social-technical network interactions. It also examines what types of interactions are most likely to occur in these venues.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Marketing Management, surveyed participants from various social networking sites and forums, including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. In particular, it investigated the asymmetric response strategies used by "trolls" in order to produce the desired effects.
Trolls have been observed to use their unique techniques to amplify polarization and spread disinformation. Their tactics include posting naive comments and expressing opinions without any explanation. Moreover, they often post content revolving around insults and sarcasm.
A thriving underground industry
A thriving underground industry in the global business trolling community. The most egregious examples of this can be found in the United States, Europe and China. While not all trolls are evil, the plethora of shady operators certainly deserve a close look. Hence, a bit of high tech and high touch scrutiny is in order. One such company, DFRLab, has recently opened up an office in the African continent and is a regular on our watch list. With a name as pedigreed as DFRLab, it is no wonder that a plethora of egregious crooks are in residence. It is not too surprising that one such entrant will be on hand in your best bet for a high-speed internet connection. As an incentive, the aforementioned shady operator will likely make you a nice dinner and a movie in the process.
Tracing the fingerprints of state-sponsored trolling
State-sponsored trolling is the use of bots, fake accounts, or death threats by governments to disrupt or control public discourse online. The goal of the attacks is to intimidate, enrage, or silence opposition groups, individuals, and journalists.
The Institute for the Future (IFTF), an independent, non-partisan public policy group in Palo Alto, California, recently released a report on state-sponsored trolling. It uncovered evidence of troll operations in seven countries. Some of the examples included the Philippines, Mexico, Ecuador, Nigeria, Ghana, Albania, and Malta.
Researchers found common elements among these attacks. For example, they typically include the use of bots, botnets, death threats, rape threats, doctored images, and collusion with foreign intelligence agencies. These tactics were used to target journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.
One troll campaign was used by the Venezuelan government to intimidate citizens who criticize the government. They were paid to send tweets and cut-and-paste posts to WhatsApp groups of thousands of party loyalists.
Dealing with litigation threats
There are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with litigation threats. First, if the threat is real, don't panic. Sometimes it's not even the threat of a lawsuit that leads to the actual lawsuit. However, it's important to evaluate the risk of the threat to your business. You should also ask an attorney to assess the likelihood of a lawsuit and to discuss the best course of action.
Another option for preventing and limiting litigation is to negotiate a settlement. Many trolls are willing to lower their initial demands in order to secure a fair deal. Typically, the settlement is a percentage of the original demand. This is ideal for a company that isn't prepared to spend millions on legal fees and time. It's important to remember, however, that it's always best to avoid litigation in the first place.
