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Did Reddit year-end recaps expose Russian interference in Alberta?::Online anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and engaging with small communities are documented foreign interference tactics, but they have so far not been observed in Canada.

    • DaddleDew@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      9 months ago

      I noticed that those who were pushing anti BLM, and then anti-mask/anti-vaccine memes suddenly started pushing pro-Russia content the moment Russia invaded Ukraine. They’ve been around stirring the pot and creating polarizing content to cause disarray for years. And judging by the state of US politics, it has been working.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      241·
      9 months ago

      It really boggles my mind that so many people are ready to just categorically dismiss them and their obvious effectiveness. And then there’s the ones who know otherwise, but are playing right into the propaganda intentionally for one reason or another.

      • fruitycoder@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        61·
        9 months ago

        Propaganda doesn’t work on me, I’m too smart, too independent, to principled. Man, why do I have such a craving for <insert fastfood chain here> all of a sudden. /s

        Honestly its amazing that people think that corporations are giving hand over fist for advertising that DOESN’T influence people. Or that states are just running massive operations because they thought it might worth it.

      • 8ender@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        9 months ago

        I find it weirder still that there’s not more public discourse on it in media and politics. Like, this is the country (what’s left of it after the USSR) that for decades was Americas villain, and now they’re actively sowing discord in the country, and no one cares.

        If this was the Cold War there’d be entire government agencies dedicated to stopping troll farms.

    • SoylentBlake@lemm.eeEnglish
      221·
      9 months ago

      It FLABBERGASTS me that people get on internet forums knowing anyone could be from anywhere and have ulterior motives and not run everything thru the very basic filter of “qui bono”, which is latin for Who benefits? The double tap is “Follow the money.”

      If the opinions put across lead to a conclusion that politically oppositional countries would find beneficial…guess what…you’re talking to someone on their payroll. Or worse, you’re talking to useful idiot doing the job for free.

      I’ve called out hundreds of shills over the past few years. Hundreds. The only rational way to look at opinions online is askance.

      There’s a new word for you, it’s personally my favorite, so remember it, use it, love it, spread it, and apply it to the internet. And tell others to do so as well.

      • deafboy@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        9 months ago

        Politically opositional country benefits from any conflict. They will back both the clan and antifa, while watching and eating popcorn. Whatever your worldview is, there is an agent using it against you.