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Comment by novaleaf | Hacker News Reader

If you want a candidate to win, use the most effective hacking tool available: social engineering. As a bonus, it's legal!

It might sound flippant, but I wouldn't be too surprised if the masterful politicians (in the USA or abroad) wouldn't consider illegal hacking just because it's too risky. Better to use shady-yet-legal tactics to shift opinions. The whole "fake news" issue seems like it could be a very smart campaign in this regard.

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Chris Rock at Defcon 24 demonstrates how you could use social engineering and hacking to overthrow a government - or manage an election result: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12528544. Talk complete with a cameo of a military veteran/mercenary leader.

I've wondered why the fake memes don't result in fines - they didn't identify who was responsible as all other political ads must do.

That and freedom of speech is a protected and valued right in our democracy.

If fake memes are wrecking your country maybe it's not the memes that are the problem?

All citizens of high quality countries naturally just grew protection from propaganda, PR and psychological tricks, which evolved effortlessly for mass media/communication that reaches 100M people instantly. If that shit works on your "country", you probably need to see what's wrong with you people.

> high quality countries

Please define

> protection from propaganda, PR and psychological tricks

Yes, we here in Europe are blessed to represent the epitome of rational thought immune to all kinds of manipulation and fear-mongering. Alt-Right populism like the Front National, the Alternative für Deutschland and the UK Independence Party has no success here at all!

Brexit

But, it was a sarcastic post

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