Stuff You Should Know What was the KGB?
Jul 7, 2020
Dive into the shadowy world of the KGB, the Soviet-era secret police that wielded fear through oppression and disinformation. Explore its historical roots and chilling legacy, from the tactics that maintained Communist power to espionage during the Cold War. Uncover how the KGB's influence lingers in modern political landscapes and the complex interplay of trust and deceit. The legacy of figures like Aldrich Ames reveals the chilling effects of espionage on national security, making it clear that the shadows of intelligence operations still loom large today.
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Operation Pandora
- In the 1960s, the KGB attempted to incite a race war in the U.S. through Operation Pandora.
- They spread disinformation by posing as groups like the KKK and Black militants, distributing fake pamphlets.
Disinformation and Social Media
- The KGB's disinformation campaigns have intensified due to the rapid spread of information on social media.
- Social media allows for quicker manipulation of public opinion, making it easier to sow discord.
KGB vs. CIA/British Intelligence
- The KGB's scope and breadth of operations surpassed those of American and British intelligence agencies.
- Scholar Calder Walton highlights this in his article "Spies, Election Meddling, and Disinformation, Past and Present."