polarization

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 10, 2024

An animated version of this cartoon…here…

Canada’s Far-Right Propaganda Problem—A New Form of Homegrown Terrorism?

By now, the recent revelations about Canadian far-right influencers embedded in an alleged Russian propaganda scheme should be a wake-up call to anyone who values Canadian democracy. The U.S. Department of Justice’s indictment against two Russian nationals, accusing them of covertly funding Tenet Media—a media outlet tied to Canadian influencers Lauren Chen and Lauren Southern—has brought an insidious problem to light. Yet this scandal may be only the tip of the iceberg, highlighting a growing threat to our country: foreign-funded disinformation campaigns aimed at radicalizing Canadians, creating chaos, and undermining Western institutions.

News: With charges and sanctions, US takes aim at Russian disinformation ahead of November election

We often think of foreign interference in abstract terms, assuming it’s something that happens “elsewhere”—in the U.S. or Europe. But this activity is unfolding in our own backyard. Canadian far-right influencers have become willing collaborators in these schemes, taking advantage of our digital platforms to broadcast propaganda, peddle disinformation, and inflame societal tensions. What’s more, this foreign-backed radicalization effort mirrors the traits of homegrown terrorism, aiming to weaken the state from within by fostering hate, fear, and division.

Take Lauren Chen and Lauren Southern, two figures central to Tenet Media’s pro-Russian propaganda efforts. These influencers have become part of a dangerous transnational network that seeks to destabilize not only the U.S., but also Canada. Southern, a vocal supporter of the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, has collaborated with figures like Aleksandr Dugin, a known ally of Vladimir Putin. Chen, meanwhile, built a following with her anti-immigration, anti-LGBTQ views, creating content that mirrored the Kremlin’s talking points. Both individuals are deeply intertwined in the international far-right media ecosystem, and both contributed content designed to stoke outrage over issues like immigration and cultural identity.

This goes beyond mere opinion-shaping. When foreign actors like Russia fund and direct the narrative of far-right media outlets, the consequences are dire. They manipulate real grievances—about housing affordability, inflation, and the erosion of trust in government institutions—to serve their strategic interests. The allegations against Tenet Media and its Canadian founders demonstrate how vulnerable we are to outside influence when our own influencers are willing to sell out our democracy.

Russia’s goal, as former CSIS director Richard Fadden warns, is not just to influence the U.S. presidential election but to erode trust in institutions across the West, including Canada. This is not just about disinformation; it’s about creating a psychological state of disillusionment and division. It’s about weakening the social fabric by promoting cultural warfare, distrust, and polarization. The strategy is simple but effective: amplify fringe voices, divide communities, and let chaos unfold from within.

This tactic should be considered akin to a new form of homegrown terrorism. While it may not involve guns or bombs, it involves something far more dangerous: the poisoning of minds. When we see online comment sections flooded with pro-Russian talking points or blatant Kremlin propaganda, it’s not hard to recognize the pattern. Influencers like Lauren Southern and Lauren Chen may not have planted physical explosives, but they have helped detonate ideological bombs that fragment our society.

Analysis: Meet the right-wing Canadian influencers accused of collaborating with an alleged Russian propaganda scheme

The recent revelation that $10 million in Russian money was funnelled to Tenet Media and its Canadian collaborators underlines the scale of this disinformation campaign. Far from being passive bystanders, these individuals were active participants in shaping narratives that played directly into Russian hands.

What’s more concerning is that Tenet Media and its Canadian influencers are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Many far-right media personalities, both in Canada and the U.S., have been parroting Kremlin talking points for years. These talking points, whether about Ukraine, immigration, or Western values, have seeped into the broader conservative ecosystem, influencing not just media but politics. Prominent figures, such as Tucker Carlson in the U.S., have shown remarkable alignment with Russian narratives on issues like Ukraine, further complicating the fight against disinformation.

As one concerned reader commented, “The calls are coming from inside the house.” And they’re right. The influence of foreign disinformation campaigns is not just an external threat; it’s been internalized by many of our own citizens who now openly question the legitimacy of our institutions and media.

Opinion: I cover the far right for a living. This is why I wasn’t surprised to find Canadians embedded in an alleged Russian propaganda scheme

How did we become so polarized in such a short time? It’s no coincidence that nations like Russia, China, and Iran are using sophisticated disinformation tactics to turn citizens against one another. Russia, in particular, excels at exploiting societal fault lines to sow discord. Whether it’s inflaming outrage over gender issues or immigration, or pushing narratives that undermine public trust in health measures, the goal is always the same: division. And the Ottawa occupation and Coutts blockade are prime examples of how these foreign-backed movements have amplified domestic unrest.

The protests and occupations we’ve seen in recent years are more reactions to propaganda than to any genuine grassroots discontent. They’re reactions stoked by agitators who profit from division, just as Russia profits from a weakened and polarized Canada.

So, what can we do? As another reader insightfully pointed out, “The best offence is one where the enemy doesn’t even realize they’re being attacked.” This is exactly what’s happening in Canada today. The Russian state and its allies have perfected the art of ideological subversion, making it hard to even recognize that we’re under attack.

We need to call this out for what it is: a coordinated attack on our democracy. Canada cannot afford to become a safe haven for far-right influencers acting as foreign agents. It is crucial that policymakers take stronger steps to regulate social media platforms and introduce foreign agent registries. We must also foster public awareness about how disinformation works and how to identify it.

Finally, as individuals, we need to talk to our friends, family, and colleagues. Explain what’s happening. Expose the insidious nature of these disinformation campaigns, and make sure we are getting our news from credible, trusted sources. By doing so, we can help stop this growing form of ideological terrorism from further taking root in Canada.

Our democracy depends on it. (AI)