Canada’s intelligence agency is employing imagery evocative of the Soviet era in an effort to alert the public to potential disinformation campaigns. However, there is claim from experts that the most likely sources of such deceptive tactics will utilize images that appear to originate from North American channels.
Recently, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service initiated a social media push to combat overtly deceptive information on the internet. This campaign is characterized by a distinctively Cyrillic-style font in its infographics, incorporating elements such as stars instead of dots and backward facing letters. An instance of this features a Russian matryoshka doll along with a cryptic question: “Do you know who is behind it? Disinformation is here and hides well.”
Alongside such visual cues, CSIS brought a message of caution to Canadians regarding what they share on social media, referencing the potential risks posed by trolls.
Despite these efforts, the campaign has attracted criticism. Aaron Erlich, a political science professor at McGill University, argued the wording used by CSIS was less than transparent and seemed to aim at creating fear as well as awareness. Furthermore, he suggested that such poorly executed messaging could potentially result in counterproductive effects.
Addressing these concerns, CSIS assures that the campaign seeks to draw attention not solely to threats from Russia, but also other nations involved in disinformation activities.
Lindsay Sloane, a representative from the agency, explained that the primary goal of the campaign was to educate Canadians on the threats imposed by hostile nations. She enlightened how both governmental and non-governmental entities exploit open democratic nations like Canada, using the internet to amplify messages that threaten healthy debate and undermine confidence in institutions.
Erlich concurred with Sloane, highlighting the serious nature of Russian disinformation campaigns that often veer beyond simple political skepticism and aim to discredit democratic procedures by painting politicians as corrupt.
However, he also pointed out the expertise of Russian disinformation campaigns in maintaining an American facade. More often than not, these campaigns create fake profiles appearing as North American or Canadian individuals, hardly indicating a Russian source.
This is corroborated by data from Rapid Response Mechanism Canada which indicates that many pro-Russian messages are often conveyed through channels forged to appear American or European. Such websites, while not visibly linked to the Russian government, align closely with Kremlin narratives, propagating conspiracy theories and undermining support for Ukraine.
Furthermore, these sites also exploit popular fears around conceptions of globalism, alleging that hidden groups covertly finance international organizations like WHO and NATO, often with the help of the CIA and mainstream media. The narrative is often infused with an alarming degree of conspiracy.
It remains a challenge to measure the impact of such cyber narratives due to variances in individual world views. Tim Blackmore, a Professor at Western University, emphasizes the importance of skepticism and caution when dealing with online information.
Ultimately, the need of the hour isn’t attempting to unveil an absolute truth, but rather encouraging a measured, critical approach towards digesting the information that is presented to us in this digital age.
