Facebook is paying overseas creators to promote Alberta separatism, according to a CBC investigation. The visual investigations team found more than a dozen accounts from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, the US, and Sri Lanka posing as Canadians in separatist Facebook groups, posting divisive content while earning money through Meta's monetization program.

One example is Nieta Aqila, a noodle merchant from Indonesia who stole content from real Albertans and posted about canvassing for independence. She even displayed earnings of roughly $14 US from her Facebook activities while falsely claiming to be harassed in Alberta. Multiple accounts used similar deception tactics to appear Canadian.

Experts say this demonstrates how Facebook's incentive system prioritizes engagement over accuracy. "The grifters are monetizing because it's financially profitable," said Aengus Bridgman of McGill University. The platform benefits from ad revenue generated by controversial content that elicits strong reactions, creating a cottage industry exploiting political division for profit.