#2 it has always been #2 except sometimes those "forces" want the same things or the "forces" that agree with something the public also happens to agree with have a win for a minute
Except now they record your voice and use it to train voice ai and scam you harder. My coworker's ex-husband got a call from their "daughter" distressed "kidnapped" needing money for ransom. Sent it and called the ex-wife. Daughter was sleeping at home.
Makes sense, looks super strange haha