Considering the various factors surrounding Russian intervention in the 2016 election, I would say that the ad in question is indeed Cyberwar by definition. The Kremlin and other Russian entities purchased hundreds of ads across sites like Facebook and Twitter, taking advantage of algorithms that target certain users to disseminate their misinformation to those particularly vulnerable to the beliefs expressed in them. Through this misinformation campaign, the Russians intended to and succeeded in influencing our election in the favor of the Republican candidate Donald Trump.

I           There are some who claim this isn’t Cyber War though, and their arguments should be addressed. Many of them tend to fall into the camp of not believing Russia at all, but the findings of the FBI and intelligence committees in both The House and Senate prove otherwise. As for those who acknowledge it happened but don’t believe it is warfare, the definition of Cyber Warfare is an organized attack against a nation (usually by another nation) using the internet to damage or interfere in the politics or lives of those in that country. There is no way to  not consider this an act of war.

The use of targeted ads and mass spread of lies throughout the web is most definitely a form of Cyber Warfare, and this sets a dangerous new precedent for future elections. Due to our inaction and lack of real response to Russia, they may do it again. In fact, they might have already started. This could lead to higher tensions between the parties, political upheaval, and a lack of trust in the information we see online. Ethically, the lack of action on behalf of the winning party indicates to Russia and other nations that America might welcome this sort of thing, at least on the political side. This may lead to increased corruption in an already corrupt system full of corporate greed. On the business side of things, it shows that social media companies need to crack down on the spread of misinformation (as they have), and continue to do so. It is my belief that every advertisement should be fact-checked to some extent, and that the practice of targeted ads that railroad us into specific views should be banned.