Sputnik - The US is allegedly mulling over sophisticated new methods of influencing the public opinion in Russia, Iran and North Korea, among other countries. Russian and Iranian cyber-security specialists shed light on the US Army Intelligence and Security Command's (INSCOM) recent initiative and the potential counter-measures to handle the challenge.




It appears that the US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) is seeking�to�create an "army of�bots"�which would analyze social network data and influence users across�the world. According to�the INSCOM�request, it is targeting those who speak Arabic, French, Pashtu, Farsi, Urdu, Russian, and Korean.

Mikhail Friben, a cyber-security specialist at�the Ural Information and Analytical Center, suggested that at�the initial stage the INSCOM initiative won't prove effective and could be counterbalanced by "mirror measures."

Artificial Neural Networks
"Back in�2010, when I was researching artificial neural networks [ANN], I noted that their shortcoming was the lack of�high-quality linguistic agents, i.e. software, that can speak adequately in�one language or another," the cyber-security specialist told Sputnik Persian. "Now, judging by�the US statement, they have [developed] such software. But here is the rub: for�the declared countries, linguistic agents are different in�terms of�language structure."


It is expected that this army of�bots will monitor posts, learn colloquial expressions, differences in�spelling and slang. This would help the US Army determine whether user messages are negative, positive or neutral and influence a specific audience.

Friben explained that although in�2010 the US developed effective linguistic agents for�the English language, it was impossible to�create such software for�the Russian language, given the difficulty of�defining semantics by�word structure in�this tongue.

However, according to�the cyber-security analyst, the people, who read comments, are mostly affected by�the emotional coloring of�the message and not so much by�its meaning. Therefore, theoretically, the INSCOM system will be able to�perform the assigned tasks efficiently, Friben underscored.

The question then arises as�to how the US will turn the theory into�practice.
"Such systems usually work poorly at�the initial stage, since�the neural network needs to�be properly 'trained' with�the help of�native speakers," the specialist emphasized. "Yes, there is a system of�machine learning, which can prove successful only if the parameters are correctly set. And for�this, again, we need a human resource with�knowledge of�a specific language. But as�a rule, [linguistic] specialists who could understand the emotional coloring of�the language may misread the actual situation, especially in�social networks."


How to�Counter US 'Army of�Bots'
�Nevertheless, if not resisted, the ANN can become very effective in�manipulating sentiment, the specialist noted, adding that there are at�least two options to�handle the challenge.First, Russia can create its own "army of�bots" to�nullify the emotional impact generated by�the American system, Friben noted.

The second option is to�directly monitor users.

The cyber-security analyst explained that a real social network user has diverse activities: he exchanges messages, writes comments, post some news.
"All these parameters can be set in�the ANN so that it can analyze them," Friben said. "As a result, you get a certain portrait of�a user� Take, for�example,�Vkontakte [social media platform]. It has a bot tracking system which will allow it to�track a new American army of�bots. For more effective work it is necessary to�simulate all actions of�the user. Also, you will have to�simulate geo-targeting and other parameters. It will be possible to�track the bots."


Why Iranian Users Are Invulnerable to�Bot Attacks

Mohammad Azali, co-founder of�the large Iranian IT portal Techrasa believes that an attack by�American bots will have a little if any impact on�Iranian users.

He draws attention to�the fact that lots of�major social media platforms�are blocked in�the Islamic Republic of�Iran (IRI). It requires a certain level of�computer literacy to�reach these platforms via�VPN, however, according to�Azali, the majority of�Iranians cannot be called experienced users.

On the other hand, "many Iranian residents today associate�the Internet and social networks�with�Telegram, and it is used by�the majority of�the inhabitants of�our country," the IT specialist told Sputnik. "In addition, Telegram has a high level of�protection and encryption, which does not allow bots to�gather information. So far, there have been no cases of�so-called bots being able to�communicate in�Telegram."

Azali noted that, citing the looming security threat, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei established the Supreme Council of�Cyberspace six years ago which explores the country's cyberspace and the online segment. Within the framework of�the new structure a special body�� the National Center for�Cyberspace�� was created.

One of�the measures the center took was the increase in�mobile Internet users, as�well as�the attraction of�domestic investors in�this sphere, the IT specialist underscored, adding that now the IRI has 47 million mobile Internet users "who are easy to�control."
"Moreover,�many foreign services�were blocked by�this center, and instead of�these services domestic alternatives were presented," Azali said. "We use Aparat instead of�Youtube and Caf� Bazaar instead of�Google Play. Therefore, it is unlikely that Iran would really suffer from�this army of�American bots. Their action can be effective only at�the level of�those social networks that are blocked in�Iran."


Speaking on�the conditions on�anonymity with�Sputnik a leading analyst of�the Iranian National IT Center for�Cyber Security said that the IRI is capable of�resisting any kinds of�attacks, including those in�cyberspace.

He specified that, to�counter the bots, special mechanisms were implemented in�Iran including the creation of�national social networks and the development and popularization of�technological culture and knowledge.

"One of�the effective methods of�the struggle was to�block a number of�Western social networks and portals," the analyst said. "We have developed a whole range of�software and technical mechanisms for�identifying malicious artificial digital robots (bots). But given the national security issue, I cannot share information on�how the algorithm works."

The views and opinions expressed by�Mikhail Friben, Mohammad Azali are those of�the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of�Sputnik.