But you need to control the platform to siphon user data , have a foothold into everyone's phone and to peddle misinformation and entertainment instead of education (Chinese version operates differently than the non-Chinese one).

There is no greater vehicle to deliver a hooking mechanism to target specific users for spyware upload than an app that is installed on a lot of platforms. Weechat is one other such tool btw. and that thing behaves strangely compared to e.g. Whatsapp if you install it.

If it has to come down to companies increasing division in Western countries for profit over ideology, then fine. One is a negative externality that can be mitigated, the other is the entire point (therefore cannot be made better).

That was restricted in previous actions by Facebook, according to Zuckerberg's testimony. So today, you do need to control the platform.

> according to Zuckerberg's testimony

Not according to his employees

That might be true, but after testimony in front of Congress?

They would have to be bribing the IRS. No way.

I don't like or use Facebook and I hope it dies a horrible death. But I'm also a realist.

Why would they have to bribe the IRS?

A foreign adversary can't pay Facebook for an ad without using a bank that reports to the IRS.

I don't think the GP was talking about ads at all when referring to foreign adversaries influence on Facebook. They wouldn't need ads. They're doing fine disseminating disinformation already. TikTok does not promote CCP messages through ads, either.

I think they were talking about ads because the comment referred to what they sell specifically.

>That's what social media companies sell!

In any case, without paid ads, their "friend me" campaigns didn't work. There's some research from the FBI on this.

Can't find the link right this second but I'll post back if I do.

They operate everywhere in the open, with college campuses and academia being the most prominent places if you ask me.