The only reason blackmail works is that the target wants to keep that information private. Anyone who discovered the information could release it, including pre

The only reason blackmail works is that the target wants to keep that information private. Anyone who discovered the information could release it, including press. I think we can agree that releasing the information is thus not an act of war, so the target acquiescing to blackmail means they themselves are choosing to elevate the situation, not the foreign blackmailer. Hence, blackmail is not an act of war.