CIA Files: True Stories of U.S Intelligence

Episode 18: CIA Files: The Pentagon's Secret Keyboard Warriors

08.09.2022 - By Brandon Givens & Topher M. FordPlay

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Sorry for the delay. We recorded this episode to release last week, but I (Topher) had a lot going on and neglected to edit and publish it on time. So here it is for this week. We hope you didn't miss us too much.

In this episode, we dive into the world of "signature reduction" -- which is made up of efforts to hide agents' true identities online in the world of social media and open-source intelligence. All of this is being produced by a massive network of military and private contractor efforts, which also include constructing fake digital personas for agents working under cover in the field. These secret keyboard warriors help produce fake credentials, like passports and drivers' licenses, and can even tap into official government databases to falsify records, enabling agents to pose as other people and to cross international borders without raising any eyebrows.

Sources

https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-inside-militarys-secret-undercover-army-1591881

https://opticsmanagement.com/what-is-signature-reduction-and-how-can-it-help-you-protect-your-privacy/

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/us-intelligence-is-more-privatized-than-ever-before/

https://www.salon.com/2007/06/01/intel_contractors/

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