We aren't just talking about some random FB ads. These were targeted specifically at undecided voters in swing states based on data from hacked voter rolls. It was a surgical operation designed to shift the balance while leaving a small footprint. It obviously wasn't the only factor, but given the extremely thin margins in the pivotal states, it's not unreasonable to wonder whether it could have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Whether or not it was the case, there should not be any question whether the elections of the world's supposed shining example of democracy might have been decided based on a foreign mafia state's disinformation campaign. Any companies that may have been unwitting accomplices need to own up and begin working on defensive measures immediately.
On top of that, we're not just talking about pro-Trump, anti-Clinton ads. Some of the Russian ads were clearly designed to incite racism[1,2]. There was an anti-Islam rally in Houston[3], organized by a Facebook group called "Heart of Texas", which was later revealed to be a fake account operating out of Russia.
This isn't just an abstract game of geopolitics, they're literally trying to incite racial violence.
you are talking about this as if somebody got into the brain of those undecided voters and surgically forced them to vote one way or the other. It was their decision, made of free will and if a nonsensical ad can sway them, the responsibility is theirs !
at some point human beings have to take responsibility for their own decisions instead of blaming everyone else.
Actually, I disagree with your argument and agree with the conclusion.
The way I see it, ads work, but I feel the Russian angle is mostly overblown bullshit, and US with its history of fucking up elections worldwide should be the last to point fingers.
That said, I'd love for people to be consistent. If one believes that Russian targeted ads were so influencial that they swayed the election, they should just admit that ads are that powerful, and follow it to the natural conclusion - that the advertisement industry is evil and malicious, a disrespectable profession that's an affront to a free society. It's just people taking advantage of other people. So let's talk about that, and not about Russians.
Whether or not it was the case, there should not be any question whether the elections of the world's supposed shining example of democracy might have been decided based on a foreign mafia state's disinformation campaign. Any companies that may have been unwitting accomplices need to own up and begin working on defensive measures immediately.