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Russian efforts to meddle in American politics did not end at Facebook and Twitter. A CNN investigation of a Russian-linked account shows its tentacles extended to YouTube, Tumblr and even Pokémon Go.
One Russian-linked campaign posing as part of the Black Lives Matter movement used Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr and Pokémon Go and even contacted some reporters in an effort to exploit racial tensions and sow discord among Americans, CNN has learned.
"It's clear from the images shared with us by CNN that our game assets were appropriated and misused in promotions by third parties without our permission," Niantic, the makers of Pokémon Go, said in a statement provided to CNN.
"It is important to note that Pokémon GO, as a platform, was not and cannot be used to share information between users in the app so our platform was in no way being used. This 'contest' required people to take screen shots from their phone and share over other social networks, not within our game. Niantic will consider our response as we learn more."
To date, Facebook has said that it identified 470 accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency, while Twitter has identified 201 accounts. Google has not released its findings, though CNN has confirmed that the company has identified tens of thousands of dollars spent on ad buys by Russian accounts.
Facebook and Twitter have submitted detailed records of their findings to both Congress and the office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting an investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.
originally posted by: andrew778
a reply to: MotherMayEye
LMAO. I can't agree with you more. Truer words have never been spoken on this forum. I can't read her posts without dropping IQ points. Anyone who thinks CNN is unbiased aND doesn't spout complete BS the majority of the time needs a wake up call. I'm sure many people believe Russians hacked pokemon go so people wouldn't vote
originally posted by: libertytoall
Does Nintendo own Pokémon? I thought they did. If I were them I'd sue the # out of CNN.
originally posted by: Gryphon66
originally posted by: libertytoall
Does Nintendo own Pokémon? I thought they did. If I were them I'd sue the # out of CNN.
The company that owns Pokemon Go, Niantic, has confirmed what CNN actually claimed in their article. See above.
originally posted by: Gryphon66
originally posted by: libertytoall
Does Nintendo own Pokémon? I thought they did. If I were them I'd sue the # out of CNN.
The company that owns Pokemon Go, Niantic, has confirmed what CNN actually claimed in their article. See above.
"It is important to note that Pokémon GO, as a platform, was not and cannot be used to share information between users in the app so our platform was in no way being used. This 'contest' required people to take screen shots from their phone and share over other social networks, not within our game. Niantic will consider our response as we learn more."
It's unclear what the people behind the contest hoped to accomplish, though it may have been to remind people living near places where these incidents had taken place of what had happened and to upset or anger them.
CNN has not found any evidence that any Pokémon Go users attempted to enter the contest, or whether any of the Amazon Gift Cards that were promised were ever awarded -- or, indeed, whether the people who designed the contest ever had any intention of awarding the prizes.
Seriously?
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNN
As far as Pokemon Go, it was an image advertising a "contest" as CNN reported. Clearly the contest wasn't about trying to influence the election through Pokemon Go but rather, just a gimmick to help popularize the site/social media. From what I could see from cached pages, the focus on the election directly was minimal. No mention of Trump either positive or negative, a very few bits about Clinton (negative). To me, assuming the FB bit is legit, it looks like part of a more generalized influence operation.
Exclusive: Even Pokémon Go used by extensive Russian-linked meddling effort