This time, it’s internal emails detailing the creation of “persona management” software to simplify the process of pretending to be several people at once online, in order simulate widespread support for a point of view — astroturfing automation software. The software appears to have been developed in response to a federal government solicitation seeking automated tools for astroturfing message boards in foreign countries.

via HBGary’s high-volume astroturfing technology and the Feds who requested it – Boing Boing.

This allowed the human actor to open a virtual machine or thumb drive with an associated persona and have all the appropriate email accounts, associations, web pages, social media accounts, etc. pre-established and configured with visual cues to remind the actor which persona he/she is using so as not to accidentally cross-contaminate personas during use…