Pentagon pushes back on report of anti-extremism social media surveillance program

[rangerrebew]

Pentagon pushes back on report of anti-extremism social media surveillance program
Meghann Myers
 

The Defense Department is not planning to troll troops’ social media accounts for extremist activity, the Pentagon’s top spokesman told reporters on Tuesday, contrary to a Monday report about a pilot program to that effect.

The Intercept cited documents and a “senior Pentagon official” in a story about a program that would “‘continuously’ monitor military personnel for ‘concerning behaviors,’” online, spearheaded by the Pentagon’s extremism working group and its chair, Bishop Garrison.

“There’s no pilot program being run by Mr. Garrison or the extremist working group to examine social media,” John Kirby said, calling the story “misreporting.”

The working group is tasked with reviewing current Pentagon policy that touches on extremism, Kirby said, but not with making new policy.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/05/18/pentagon-pushes-back-on-report-of-anti-extremism-social-media-surveillance-program/

[rangerrebew]

So they claim not to be working on a spy program.  Does that mean they truly aren't doing anything or does it mean the program is already in service.  I know, it's playing with words but the government does it all the time.