Many Albertans who spare themselves the misery of social media believe separatism will be defeated on Oct. 19 and promptly fade away.

In fact, the aftershock from a clear separatist loss could be devastating for the province and the country.

Top analysts expect a flood of online propaganda and misinformation to begin even as the votes are counted. The purpose is to convince people the referendum was crooked.

Relentless social media campaigns will come from Russia, the U.S., and some players at home.

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

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In an unwelcome irony, our referendum is a perfect proving ground for the bad actors winding up to discredit the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3.

Various experts warn of big trouble. Among them is Brynn Tannehill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot who later became a Rand Corporation analyst on defence and security.

“The malign actors, both foreign and domestic, know that the separatists winning the referendum is a near statistical impossibility,” Tannehill writes in a widely shared Substack post.

“They will be poised to begin casting doubt........

© Calgary Herald