RCMP To Expand Online Surveillance With Fake Profiles To Track Canadian ‘Extremists’

Canada’s RCMP is preparing to expand its online presence through fake profiles as part of an effort to monitor “extremist” activities nationwide, according to an internal document. The 2024 document reveals the agency’s plans to use undercover accounts to investigate potential threats under national security mandates.

The report suggests that the RCMP needs additional “personas” to address increasing demands in the area of ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE). This new strategy aligns with earlier recommendations for enhancing covert online investigations, as outlined in the 2022 Operational Improvement Review.

Civil liberties advocates are concerned about privacy risks and potential misuse of this surveillance. Canada’s privacy commissioner has voiced concerns, emphasizing that such operations require judicial oversight to avoid infringing upon citizens’ rights. Entrapment risks are also highlighted by legal experts who worry that legitimate dissent could be wrongly categorized as extremism.

Critics question who the RCMP might target. Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant speculates that the policy will focus more on social conservatives, truckers and those opposing gender ideology rather than groups responsible for recent surges in violent protests. Levant has argued that RCMP resources would be better spent on real threats rather than monitoring ideological opposition to government policies.

The document further indicates that online surveillance will demand more IT resources and staffing. Proponents argue these efforts are necessary to counter real-time threats, though opponents remain unconvinced about the program’s intentions and potential consequences.

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