In May 2017, documents from the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace leaked surrounding the foundation of the Bolivarian Army of Trolls.[1][2] The Army of Trolls was created to reinforce a militaristic mindset among its members, a defining characteristic of the Bolivarian government.[2]
Organization
The Army of Trolls is organized in a military-like structure which includes:[1][3]
Squad – An individual responsible for twenty-three social media accounts
Platoon – Ten squads separated into groups of two, placed in task forces involving press, design, hacking, account incubation and disinformation, a total of 230 social media accounts
Company – Fifty individuals made of five platoons, a total of 1,150 social media accounts
Battalion – One-hundred individuals made of two companies, a total of 2,300 social media accounts
Brigade – Five-hundred individuals made of five battalions, a total of 11,500 social media accounts
Functions
Personnel involved are tasked with adopting the personas of accounts that range from being a chavista, an opposition-supporter or a sexual catfish.[4] Trolls are also responsible for spreading disinformation and fake news.[3]
Reception
Venezuelan NGO Instituto Prensa y Sociedad stated that the Bolivarian Army of Trolls places "journalism, freedom of expression and democracy at risk" and that its creation "extends the surveillance, opacity and censorship status to the internet that the Venezuelan government has increasingly implemented through regulations, agencies and unconstitutional orders".[2]
