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Report Recommends Systematic Approach to Eliminate Beijing Interference in Canada


A report on Beijing’s disinformation and interference operations in Canada emphasizes the need for a systematic “kill chain” approach to address these escalating threats.

“Kill chain” refers to a phase-based strategy that identifies the stages of foreign interference and provides tailored countermeasures for each stage, as outlined in a report co-published by DisinfoWatch and Digital Public Square on Dec. 10.

“A comprehensive kill chain framework is proposed to systematically counter PRC [People’s Republic of China] operations, enabling government, law enforcement, civil society, and Canada’s democratic allies to address threats at every stage of their development and execution,” the report states.

China’s foreign interference operations are categorized into transnational repression and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

Transnational repression aims to control diaspora communities critical of Beijing’s policies through intimidation and coercion. Vulnerable communities in Canada identified in the report include Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hongkongers, and Taiwanese.

On the other hand, FIMI seeks to shape public opinion, promote positive narratives about China, and discredit critics, including foreign elected officials. Tactics involve threats against targets’ family members in China, online harassment, and the use of social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo to monitor and coerce individuals in Canada.

Interviews with 25 leaders from targeted communities revealed that 80 percent cited threats to family members in China as a common method of coercion.

Moreover, 85 percent reported direct threats against Canadian activists for intimidation, while 70 percent pointed out political pressure as a key influence tool. Financial incentives were highlighted by 75 percent of respondents.

“The pervasive nature of these operations creates an atmosphere of fear, undermining the freedom and security of targeted communities,” the report stated.

Countermeasures

While a cabinet bill passed in June updated Canada’s national security laws and introduced a foreign agent registry, researchers noted the need for clearer definitions of foreign interference and transnational repression. They called for a unified definition of these threats among allies and proposed a structured kill chain approach to disrupt these activities.

The “kill chain” strategy outlined in the report comprises three stages: Plan, Prepare, and Execute, each involving various initiatives.

Among the recommended initiatives are enhancing information-sharing between government security units and civil society groups. To boost transparency, educating the media, elected officials, and the public about foreign information operations is advised.

The report also suggests regulating social media platforms to remove or label state-affiliated entities and combat inauthentic behavior. Legislation to address China’s manipulation of Canadian information through regime-controlled platforms is proposed.

To mitigate risks from authoritarian-controlled social media, stronger measures like compelling divestment from adversaries or imposing bans are recommended. Long-term solutions may involve banning cross-border data transfers and tightening regulations on data brokers.

On the global scale, the report proposes Canada lead in establishing a Global Alliance Against Transnational Repression to safeguard citizens from foreign interference.



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