@gtconway.bsky.social , @charliesavage.bsky.social , and even @thebulwark.bsky.social are following @billkristol.bsky.social, plus 11k others. They might want to fix that.
Wow- I was taken in by that. Everything looks real enough about it. Even @gtconway.bsky.social is listed as a follower. When I looked closer I noticed that there were only three posts however. Thanks for the heads up.
Thank you. This stuff can get really confusing with imposters. I'm sure nobody is going to be duping me! Haha.
But seriously, thank you. We need to know things like this.
When I was in college, at the turn of the millennium, I would make fun of Bill Kristol. Now, I look forward to Bulwark pod’s Mondays with Bill Kristol like a giddy schoolboy on donut day. He’s the sage of our time.
(Just before I deactivated at the other place, moments ago, I saw a post from him saying he was thankful to be of the party of Sarah McBride, and not that of Nancy Mace. I appreciated that.)
At a guess. People will follow the account because they recognise the name. When it posts the right type of stuff, more people will follow.
Then they change the name and a) start posting different stuff to a big audience or
b) sell the account
Developing credibility in that account so that you can use it later for bad objectives. People who hijack account are just pranksters. People who patiently emulate an account are up to really bad things.
A timely reminder that the category of “known, perhaps esteemed, but not significant enough to be of interest to foreign intelligence agencies” is a very nice place to be indeed.
I've also seen a number of accounts setup to be mirrors of another account, though that doesn't seem to be the case here, with only a few posts. And usually it's more obvious.
Coordinated impersonation accounts build a following larger than a single account. Coordinators can then feed disinfo to larger audience. And dangerously so. This taps an audience that is avoiding disinfo peddlers already established in right wing circles.
Comments
Milo and I appreciate the confirmation 👍
There’s also what seems to be a fake Tim Miller account, with loads of followers.
On oligarch Musk’s site, he sadly said 12 days ago he isn’t coming here at all.😢
https://x.com/Timodc/status/1856349044659871916
But seriously, thank you. We need to know things like this.
Bill: "Damnit, Tom. This is no time for a game!"
(Just before I deactivated at the other place, moments ago, I saw a post from him saying he was thankful to be of the party of Sarah McBride, and not that of Nancy Mace. I appreciated that.)
The social media version of "Single White Female"?
The lulz?
That's all I can come up with.
Then they change the name and a) start posting different stuff to a big audience or
b) sell the account