Canada increases efforts to combat Russia’s interference, disinformation

This is stated in the analysis by Insight News Media.

Following the unanimous adoption of a motion to investigate recent Russia-driven campaigns, members of Canada’s Safety and National Security committee held a hearing.

Canadian and international experts, including Central European University visiting professor Anton Shekhovtsov, Reset CEO Ben Scott, the Stockholm Freeworld Forum, and Wesley Wark from the Centre for International Governance Innovation (a retired Canadian intelligence officer), have briefed members of Canada’s Safety and National Security committee.

The claims outlined in a newly unsealed US Department of Justice complaint against two employees of a Russian-controlled broadcaster who allegedly funneled money to a North American online media outlet, as well as the “Canadian companies and individuals” purportedly “connected to this Russian propaganda effort,” are part of the Canadian investigation into Russia’s hybrid operations.

Central European University professor Anton Shekhovtsov said that during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a main part of its strategy against the West, including Canada, is an information war with two main types of messages: strategic and tactical. He named three main strategic messages:

1. Russia is a global power with a right to its sphere of influence, which includes Ukraine.

2. Ukraine, as part of the West, is a threat to Russia.

3. NATO is using Ukraine to fight against Russia.

He listed several tactical messages used by pro-Russian influence actors in the West:

1. Ukraine is run by Nazis.

2. Corrupt Ukrainian leaders are pocketing Western financial aid.

3. Western weapons sent to Ukraine will go to terrorists or be sold on the black market.

4. Military aid doesn’t help Ukraine win; it just prolongs its suffering.

5. The West should avoid opposing Russia because it might use nuclear weapons.

According to Shekhovtsov, pro-Russian actors use various methods to spread their strategic and tactical messages:

1. Official Russian channels: this includes statements from the Russian president, his administration, and ministries.

2. State-controlled media: Russian media, especially those that produce English-language content, are heavily controlled.

3. Social media accounts: pro-Russian supporters run social media accounts, both openly and secretly.

4. Malign influencers: this group includes academics, journalists, celebrities, businesses, and religious organizations based in the West.

5. Front organizations: pro-Russian stakeholders create organizations in Western countries to disguise their agenda.

Canadian government hasn't done enough to stop Russian disinformation – National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress

During hearings on October 2 about Russian influence in Canada, Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, stated that the Canadian government is not doing enough to stop ongoing Russian disinformation attacks against the Ukrainian community and democratic institutions.

“The Ukrainian Canadian community has been the target of Soviet and now Russian disinformation for many decades,” stated Chyczij. “The Canadian government has not acted forcefully enough to counter these persistent, insidious and destabilizing Russian attacks on our community or Canadian democratic institutions.”

Canada’s efforts against Russian disinformation

The Canadian government has reported that Russian disinformation is affecting Canadians, making it hard to tell fact from fiction. 

The Kremlin uses disinformation to justify its illegal invasion of Ukraine, manipulating information to gain military advantage, demoralize Ukrainians, and create confusion among allies.

Canada's response includes exposing disinformation, sanctioning those spreading it, and coordinating international efforts to combat these tactics.

Recent Russian disinformation operation targeted Canadian prime minister 

A major Russian disinformation website, RRN, has been spreading anti-Trudeau articles, prompting calls for a public inquiry. This site has published over a dozen pieces on Canadian politics, aiming to undermine support for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The RRN articles often focus on controversies within the Liberal government, misrepresenting its policies and mocking Trudeau. Some refer to him as an "incompetent prime minister," suggesting he’d be better suited for a role in political satire alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

U.S. authorities have seized a domain hosting RRN, but it continues to operate on a different one. Authorities describe RRN as a tool to “further the malign influence campaign” that Russia is waging in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. 

Canada condemned Russia for trying to interfere in the U.S. election

This came a day after the Biden administration announced actions against Russia's disinformation efforts. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada is working with the U.S. and other allies on this issue.

To address Russia's meddling in the upcoming election, the U.S. Department of Justice announced several measures, including criminal charges against two employees of the state-run media outlet RT and the seizure of websites used to spread false information.

LeBlanc emphasized that Canada and its allies are committed to taking action against Russian aggression and tactics that threaten democracies.

71% of Canadians heard at least one Russian narrative – research

A study by DisinfoWatch and the Canadian Digital Media Research Network found that 71% of Canadians heard at least one Russian narrative about the war in Ukraine. They polled over 2,100 Canadians in spring 2024 and found that, on average, people were exposed to about 2.1 of these narratives. Many Canadians either accepted these narratives as true or were unsure about their accuracy.

The narratives examined included claims such as:

• The Ukrainian government is corrupt and misusing financial aid.

• NATO and Ukraine caused the war with Russia.

• Russia is fighting to defend itself against Nazis in Ukraine.

• Sending aid to Ukraine is pointless.

• Ukraine should give up its eastern territory to Russia for peace.

The study also noted that influencers linked to the Russian government spread these narratives across political groups in Western democracies, including Canada. These influencers use social media to reach audiences in Canada, the U.S., and beyond.

Russia weaponizes far-right and far-left to undermine support for Ukraine – Canadian researchers

Brian McQuinn and his team of researchers found that Russia is using both far-right and far-left groups in Canada to weaken support for Ukraine. They noticed similar tactics being used by the Kremlin in European Union countries as well (Report: Russia’s Weaponization of Canada’s Far Right and Far Left to Undermine Support for Ukraine).

Most of the influential pro-Russian accounts in Canada come from these far-right or far-left political groups. The analysts believe that these networks are part of organized and well-funded efforts aimed at changing Canadian attitudes toward Ukraine. The narratives being shared are specifically tailored to resonate with Canadian audiences.

Canadian influencers allegedly involved in Russian influence campaigns

A right-wing social media star from Quebec and her partner are at the center of a U.S. investigation into a suspected multimillion-dollar Russian influence campaign. 

The indictment claims that officials from RT, a Russian state-controlled media outlet banned in Canada and the UK since the invasion of Ukraine, created a plan to sway public opinion using a Tennessee-based company connected to Canada. They allegedly funneled about $10 million through a network of foreign shell companies to this digital media firm.

While the media outlet isn’t named, it seems to match descriptions of Tenet Media, founded by social media star Lauren Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan. In the indictment, they are referred to as "Founder-1" and "Founder-2."

Read also: RT pays American influencers for anti-Ukrainian statements

Neither Chen nor Donovan has been charged with any crimes. However, two RT officials, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, are accused of money laundering and not registering as foreign agents. The indictment alleges that they recruited Chen and Donovan to spread pro-Russian messages and create divisions within the U.S. to weaken opposition to Russia’s goals.