How is this news? Every global and regional power does this sort of thing to further their economic and political interests. They do it against both friend and foe. They've been doing it since newspapers first became popular.
And there's nothing wrong with it. Sure it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but Facebook posts filled with misinformation, sponsored by foreign agents disguised as your countrymen are vastly preferable to the alternatives which have historically included sponsored coups, astroturfed bloody protests, economically crippling sanctions, and assassinations.
[1] China, Russia, the US, the UK, Israel, KSA, India, Germany, etc.
Yes, even Germany which many people on HN seem to think miraculously stopped spying in 1989 and ascended to ethical heaven. I wouldn't be surprised if Canada used it during the Keystone pipeline debate.
And there's nothing wrong with it. Sure it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but Facebook posts filled with misinformation, sponsored by foreign agents disguised as your countrymen are vastly preferable to the alternatives which have historically included sponsored coups, astroturfed bloody protests, economically crippling sanctions, and assassinations.
[1] China, Russia, the US, the UK, Israel, KSA, India, Germany, etc. Yes, even Germany which many people on HN seem to think miraculously stopped spying in 1989 and ascended to ethical heaven. I wouldn't be surprised if Canada used it during the Keystone pipeline debate.