Project Birmingham (disinformation campaign)
Project Birmingham was an online disinformation effort funded by Reid Hoffman, an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and Democratic Party activist. The Project sought to influence the 2017 United States Senate special election in Alabama that pitted Republican Roy Moore against Democrat Doug Jones, who won the election.[1][2]
Background[edit]
The project's operators posed as conservative Alabamians, creating misleading Facebook pages to urge Republican voters to support write-in candidates instead of Moore. Their actions spurred misleading news headlines that lured thousands of Russian Twitter bots to make posts supporting Moore.[3][4] The project was funded by social media investor Reid Hoffman, who acknowledged the contribution, but said he was unaware it was part of an effort to create disinformation.[2] Hoffman apologized for having funded the operation.[5]
Project Birmingham is believed to have spent $100,000, as compared to total expenditures of roughly $51 million for the entire election campaign.[4] Republican Steve Marshall, Alabama's Attorney General, stated that Project Birmingham might have influenced the election outcome and that he would "explore the issue".[6] According to the New York Times, it is unlikely that the Project affected the outcome, and that there "is no evidence that Mr. Jones sanctioned or was even aware of the social media project".[4]
The Washington Post reported that Democratic Party operatives, and the firm that implemented the Project, attempted to "distance themselves" from its tactics.[2] Jonathon Morgan, a cybersecurity expert who took part in the Project, characterized the Project as a "small experiment" to better understand how online tactics work.[4] Facebook suspended his account.[7]
The New York Times described how the Project imitated Russian tactics and "may be a sign of things to come":[4]
Campaign veterans in both parties fear the Russian example may set off a race to the bottom, in which candidates choose social media manipulation because they fear their opponents will. 'Some will do whatever it takes to win,' said Dan Bayens, a Kentucky-based Republican consultant. 'You’ve got Russia, which showed folks how to do it, you’ve got consultants willing to engage in this type of behavior and political leaders who apparently find it futile to stop it.'
References[edit]
- ^ Cornish, Audie (January 9, 2019). "How 'Project Birmingham' Spread Misinformation In The 2017 Alabama Senate Election". NPR. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c Timberg, Craig (January 6, 2019). "Secret campaign to use Russian-inspired tactics in 2017 Ala. election stirs anxiety from Democrats". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ Welch, Chris (December 26, 2018). "LinkedIn co-founder says he unknowingly backed disinformation effort in Alabama Senate race". The Verge. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Shane, Scott; Blinder, Alan (December 19, 2018). "Secret Experiment in Alabama Senate Race Imitated Russian Tactics". The New York Times. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ Mak, Aaron (December 26, 2018). "LinkedIn Co-Founder Apologizes for Funding Alabama Election Disinformation Effort". Slate.
- ^ Beavers, Olivia (December 27, 2018). "Alabama attorney general looking into disinformation campaign targeting Roy Moore". The Hill. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ Hoffower, Hillary (December 22, 2018). "Facebook suspended five accounts for spreading misleading information during an Alabama election, including a lead social media researcher who helped the government discover fake news". Business Insider. Retrieved February 11, 2024.