The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) says Canadians are targets of foreign influence campaigns.
In a 2018 memo, the CSE indicated social media and digital technology has made it easier for foreign powers to shape perceptions. The memo was prepared to protect the 2019 federal election from foreign interference.
“Foreign states have harnessed the new online influence systems to undertake influence activities against Western democratic processes, and they use cyber capabilities to enhance their influence activities through, for example, cyber espionage,” wrote the memo.
The government spent $7 million in taxpayer dollars to create a department called the “Critical Election Incident Public Protocol” to monitor social media for misinformation.
After the re-election of the Trudeau Liberals, the government declared that there was no evidence indicating that there were foreign-directed social media or misinformation campaigns during the 2019 election.
During the election, there were elements of foreign entities either endorsing the Liberals or promoting their policies.
Prior to election day, former U.S. President Barack Obama endorsed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for re-election.
“The world needs his progressive leadership now, and I hope our neighbors to the north support him for another term,” wrote Obama about Trudeau on Twitter.
In addition, Swedish climate alarmist, Greta Thunberg, also travelled throughout Canada promoting an environmental program and meeting with Trudeau in Montreal ahead of a climate march.
“I agree with her entirely. We need to do more. And that’s why the ambitious plans we’ve laid out all week that have been criticized by some as too ambitious, are not too ambitious — are necessary,” said Trudeau about the encounter.
