New research shows that despite the Trudeau government’s purported hard line against authoritarian states, the government does little to protect Canadians who speak out and are targeted by dictatorial regimes such as China.
A report by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab found that Canadian activists and dissidents were being targeted by the security apparatuses of foreign states for speaking out against them.
The study, titled Psychological and Emotional War: Digital Repression in Canada described how there is little support for those who find themselves in the crosshairs of countries including communist China.
According to researchers “digital transnational repression” is when foreign states “reach across national borders to silence dissent among diaspora and exile communities” using digital technologies and mediums.
“We conclude that digital transnational repression has a serious impact on these communities, including their ability to undertake transnational advocacy work related to human rights. Yet, there is little support for victims who experience such targeting and policy efforts by the Canadian government to date have been insufficient,” researchers wrote.
“This finding is troubling, considering that the Trudeau government purports to welcome migrants and refugees to Canada and has made the promotion of democracy and human rights a cornerstone of its political platform.”
According to the report, activists and dissidents faced a number of repressive tactics including “hacking and phishing, account takeovers, troll and bot campaigns on social media, online threats and disinformation campaigns.”
Those who have been targeted by such campaigns said they experienced a range of impacts such as having their professional and student lives negatively affected and being cut off from communications with their families abroad.
One Hong Kong activist named Li said that she faced a wave of bots targeting her with death and rape threats for her advocacy work.
In conclusion, researchers recommended that the federal government create an agency that provides support for those facing repression from authoritarian states abroad.
Recent reports have shone a light on how the Chinese government has actively harassed or intimidated Canadians for speaking out about its human rights abuses.
One letter submitted by cabinet to the House of Commons foreign affairs subcommittee last year stated that Ottawa was aware of such events.
“The Government of Canada is aware that foreign states, including the People’s Republic of China or its proxies, may attempt to harass, threaten and intimidate Canadians, persons residing in Canada or their families, in Canada or abroad, particularly Chinese diaspora or ethno-cultural communities,” the letter claimed.
