(Revealed in this guardian.co.ukstory):
A US military spy operation is developing "sock puppet" software that will enable it to secretly manipulate social media sites by using fake online personas to influence internet conversations and spread pro-American propaganda.
"The [U.S. Central Command] Centcom contract stipulates that each fake online persona must have a convincing background, history and supporting details, and that up to 50 US-based controllers should be able to operate false identities from their workstations without fear of being discovered by sophisticated adversaries.'"