China and Russia tried to interfere in last election, but to little avail, watchdog says
nationalpost.com
China and Russia once again tried to interfere in Canada’s latest federal election but likely had minimal impact on the vote.

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4874758

Archived version

China and Russia once again tried to interfere in Canada’s latest federal election but likely had minimal impact on the vote that was ultimately free and fair, said the foreign interference in elections watchdog.

…

“While foreign actors attempted to undermine it, it did not affect the integrity of the election. There were no significant security incidents observed during the election, no cyber threats and no incidents of violent expression,” Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force spokesperson Laurie-Anne Kempton told reporters Thursday.

SITE — composed of the RCMP, Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Communications Security Establishment and Global Affairs Canada — is tasked with monitoring federal elections for foreign interference. But the public is only advised of foreign efforts if they meet a certain threshold for disclosure.

…

  • Severus_Snape@lemmy.worldEnglish
    493·
    1 day ago

    I lived in Canada for a while. Quebec to be precise.

    I would argue the biggest interference in the country is perhaps the United States.

    • The National Post
    • The Montreal Gazette
    • Ottawa Citizen
    • Vancouver Sun
    • Ottawa Sun
    • Edmonton Journal
    • Edmonton Sun
    • Fort McMurray Today
    • Toronto Sun
    • Calgary Sun
    • Windsor Star
    • Calgary Herald
    • The Province
    • London Free Press.

    All these newspapers belong to Post Media, a company owned by americans living in New Jersey.

    One of the biggest lobbying organization in Canada is actually american. Microsoft Canada very aggressively lobbies the federal government, provinces and even the small cities. Because they want them to keep buying expensive Microsoft Office licenses and expensive Microsoft Windows licenses. They don’t want Canadian institutions to use Linux or LibreOffice.

    • randomname@scribe.disroot.orgOPEnglish
      7·
      2 days ago

      @Severus_Snape@lemmy.world

      And what exactly has that to do with Canada’s official report(s) on election interference?

      Here you can find the latest with all the links: Government of Canada Publishes Election Security and Integrity Reports Covering the 45th General Election

      There is much more on the official site. Among others, it reads:

      Furthermore, in previously noted behaviours, the PRC has been observed engaging in transnational repression activities, which involve a range of tactics designed to exert influence and control beyond its borders. These tactics include leveraging PRC-based relatives and other connections to pressure those in Canada to refrain from adopting views the PRC sees as hostile, or to return to the PRC, and threatening PRC-based family members with an array of potential coercive actions, including detention or financial penalties.

      • queermunist she/her@lemmy.mlEnglish
        134·
        1 day ago

        It shows that election interference and influence is only a problem in the eyes of the Canadian government when Asians do it. When the US does it they’re just being friendly, I guess.

          • queermunist she/her@lemmy.mlEnglish
            113·
            1 day ago

            The US obviously interfers in and influences Canada’s elections, on a greater scale and to greater effect, but the Canadian government doesn’t seem to care about that. This is despite the fact that the US is vastly more dangerous to Candian sovereignity, with it waging a trade war on their economy and now threatening to make Canada the 51st state.

            There’s only a few ways to interpret this.

      • whiwake@lemmy.cafeEnglish
        3·
        1 day ago

        They will get notified, you don’t need to tag them.

        Also, I think they are talking about media influence on people as a way to manipulate opinions and voter outcomes. Which is on topic