“The RCMP’s lack of a covert online presence was previously highlighted in the OIR, which recommended that the RCMP develop its own online undercover program to assist with national security criminal investigations,” the RCMP said in the document.
The RCMP wants to spy on Canadian “extremists” with fake online personas, according to an internal document from the national police force, CBC reported, noting that “experts” in ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE) are applauding the plan because online threats could become reality.
But civil liberty defenders say the strategy could be a means of police entrapment and a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights. Canada’s privacy commissioner flagged the RCMP for its online investigations and are demanding that the RCMP be subject to judicial oversight. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is also committed to spying on social conservatives who support parental rights and oppose gender ideology and child sex changes.
The internal strategy document, dated April 2024, was released as a result of an Access to Information request and shared with CBC.
"The RCMP's lack of a covert online presence was previously highlighted in the OIR (Operational Improvement Review), which recommended that the RCMP develop its own online undercover program to assist with national security criminal investigations," the RCMP internal document stated.
"Federal Policing National Security (FPNS) is currently taking steps to address this recommendation through proactive legend-building and backstopping personas, but this work needs to be prioritized and accelerated in order to meet future demand for online undercover activities."
The document added, "Should Federal Policing expand its online undercover and intelligence capacity in the IMVE space, there will be a need for additional online personas, monikers, and information technology equipment to sustain these activities."
Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant condemned the plan on Monday night’s episode of The Ezra Levant Show, saying that the policy leaves the door open for the RCMP to investigate "anything from white supremacists and neo-Nazis to far-left environmental and animal rights organizations” but it will likely focus on the pet enemies of the Trudeau government.
"Is the RCMP, with these riots, and an antisemitic crime wave, and these Hamas encampments, are they really worried about animal rights organizations or Steven Guilbeault's Greenpeace?" he asked.
"I don't think so, but that's what the CBC wants us to focus on. They're of course talking about conservatives, probably talking about truckers," said Levant, noting that the national police would rather target ideological opponents of the government than rising crime, growing antisemitism or violent protests.
"This goes on every single weekend, terrorist supporters in my city of Toronto go right into the heart of Jewish communities, flying swastikas, flying flags of banned terrorist groups, calling for a genocide, no problem. The police are their escorts," he said.
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