Read on Twitter
1. NEW from @AletheaGroup with @isaacstanbecker: We uncovered a network of 178 websites, half of which claim to be conservative news sites, using false and sensational “news” content to conduct a large datamining operation on website visitors. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
2. The sites we identified have similar technical infrastructure and design. They prompt visitors to turn over personal info, such as email address and credit card info, and are filled with digital trackers that collect data on visitors. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
3. One of the sites sells a Trump coin for which you must enter your email address and credit card info to not miss out on the supposed “special offer.” But the site lists a company and a CEO that doesn’t exist, including a stock image photo of the CEO. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
4. . @AletheaGroup attributed the sites to a Florida-based entrepreneur who specializes in get-rich quick schemes. At least two of his companies, RightSide Data and Direct Mailers Group, publicly advertise lists of data collected through these sites. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
5. One public post from an employee of RightSide Data advertised “30 Conservative Leaning Email Lists” for sale. The post said: “Want to market to over 1.5 million babyboomers through email?” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
6. These sites are just a drop in the bucket. As I say in the article: “Pairing collected data with things like skip tracing software and bulk messaging apps — it’s where a lot of these networks are headed...It is the future of political disinformation.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/08/11/evans-disinformation-florida-email/
7. Proud of the @AletheaGroup team that worked so hard to uncover this network - @lawton_sophie hie and @lisackaplan.
