RCMP To Use Fake Online Profiles To Monitor Suspected ‘Extremists’ Across Canada

The RCMP is implementing a controversial strategy to create covert online profiles aimed at tracking suspected “extremist” threats in Canada. A document obtained by CBC indicates that the RCMP will use these undercover accounts to address ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE) online.

This approach is part of a recommendation from the 2022 Operational Improvement Review, which highlighted the RCMP’s lack of digital covert capabilities. According to the report, the police force will engage in “legend-building” to support national security and track potential threats before they materialize.

Despite support from some security experts, the plan has faced criticism from privacy and civil liberties advocates. Canada’s privacy commissioner warned that these operations, if conducted without judicial oversight, may violate privacy protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights. Legal experts say the risk of entrapment is a serious issue, especially when targeting groups that dissent peacefully.

Public critics, including Ezra Levant from Rebel News, argue that the initiative is likely to target social conservatives rather than high-risk threats. Levant points out that RCMP resources might be used to monitor those opposing government policies, potentially ignoring real threats from violent actors.

The document also mentions the need for extensive resources to support this surveillance, including additional online personas and advanced technology. The RCMP maintains that such measures are necessary to address the evolving threat landscape, though critics remain wary of potential abuses.

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