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by aerostable_slug 1654 days ago
The Clandestine Service has had prohibitions against working under journalistic cover in the past. This is because it's thought that free access by journalists to trouble spots beats the possibility of tainting the profession in the eyes of the world (in other words: press access is a bigger net win).

It has been violated from time to time, but at least it's talked about. To my knowledge, the only absolute bar is anything at all to do with the Peace Corps. It would be a Very Bad Thing if people start to think those nice kids digging wells and handing out rice might be intelligence officers.
1 comments
anextio 1654 days ago
This logic didn't stop them from running a fake vaccination program in Pakistan to try to find Osama. It directly led to a significant rise in vaccine refusal in the region.

https://www.vox.com/first-person/22256595/vaccine-covid-paki...

So I find it unlikely that they internally enforce prohibitions against meddling with anything at all.

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RF_Savage 1654 days ago
They did not stop either. They have used being vaccination workers as cover in Kenya.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-28-revealed-...

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