Question Period Note: Addressing Terrorist and Violent Extremist Content Online

Canada faces growing threats associated with terrorist and violent extremist content online.

• Our Government remains committed to taking action against terrorist and violent extremist content online. This type of harmful content can undermine public safety, Canada’s national security, and social cohesion.

• As technology continues to rapidly evolve, the risks associated with the misuse of artificial intelligence, the propagation of disinformation and the radicalization of online spaces continue to rise.

• Our Government is a strong supporter of the Christchurch Call to Eliminate Terrorist and Violent Extremist Content Online.

• To support the commitments of the Christchurch Call, my department funds research and prevention programming to increase capacity to address violent extremist content online.

• At the Christchurch Call Leaders’ Summit last year, Prime Minister Trudeau announced $1.9 million to expand the capacity of Tech Against Terrorism, an international initiative that supports smaller platforms in identifying, assessing and rapidly responding to violent extremist and terrorist content.

• We also work with the internet industry through the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, where Canada is one of seven governments on its Independent Advisory Committee.

• Terrorism hoaxes are a criminal offence under section 83.231 of the Criminal Code. For any questions on this, I defer to my colleague, Minister Virani.

ITAC Report on Deepfake Images and Terrorist Hoaxes

According to the May 2023 ITAC report noted in the CTV article, threat actors will almost certainly create deepfake images depicting Canadian interests in the coming year, given the accessibility of deepfake technology and the continued proliferation of misinformation and disinformation. A range of individuals or organizations could be responsible for the 22 May 2023 US deepfake images, including foreign governments, violent extremists, political activists, or individuals with a hobby interest in technology. Hoaxes, including the use of deepfake images, pose a persistent threat to public safety. Globally, violent extremists could use deepfakes to advocate for violence, promote specific narratives, cause panic, tarnish public figures’ reputations, and erode trust in government and societal institutions. Although a range of threat actors have the capability to produce and disseminate deepfake media for violent extremist purposes, threat actors will most likely use deepfake media to promote anti-government or accelerationist narratives. ITAC notes that DAESH supporters have historically used fake or altered images for propaganda purposes.

Successful use of deepfake hoaxes will prompt threat actors to increasingly view hoaxes as a way to compensate for their lack of capability to conduct attacks in Canada. Hoaxes provide violent extremists with an effective technique to disrupt daily life or to intimidate targeted groups or individuals, including by potentially diverting security resources from their regular duties. Continued deepfake hoaxes could result in a competitive environment among threat actors, where the goal is to cause increasing real-world impacts, such as economic harm. Individuals who do not realize that deepfake images are fake will likely share these images, further impacting security resources. Violent extremist threat actors with limited capabilities are more likely to use hoaxes than those actors who are capable of conducting more direct actions. Deepfake media will make it more difficult for authorities to respond to, prioritize and investigate violent extremist threats

Christchurch Call to Action

The Government of Canada is a signatory to the Christchurch Call to Eliminate Terrorist & Violent Extremist Content Online (Christchurch Call to Action). The Call is a commitment by governments – including, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, United Kingdom and the United States - and digital industry to coordinate and collaborate in efforts to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. As a signatory, Canada committed to considering the establishment of regulatory or policy measures to prevent the use of online services to disseminate terrorist and violent extremist content consistent with a free, open and secure internet and international human rights law. Therefore, the development of a regulatory and legislative framework to address online harms meets this commitment under the Christchurch Call to Action.

Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism

The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) was established in 2017 by Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Twitter, and now includes 28 companies that seek to address terrorist and violent extremist content online. The GIFCT fosters technical collaboration among member companies, advances relevant research and shares knowledge with smaller platforms. Canada was instrumental in shaping the GIFCT, and is one of seven governments on the GIFCT Independent Advisory Committee (IAC). Canada also participates in two GIFCT working groups: (1) Alternative Platforms for Positive Intervention; and (2) Assessing Threat and Safety by Design.
Online Safety Regulatory and Legislative Framework
Since 2019, the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH), in conjunction with other Government departments and agencies, has been leading efforts to develop a new statutory framework for social media platforms. PS and Portfolio agencies – particularly the RCMP – are directly implicated and continue to be engaged in the ongoing development of this new framework. Given its role in supporting prevention of online forms of radicalization to violence and interaction with digital industry, PS’ Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence (Canada Centre) has played a central role to inform the development of the framework provisions regarding terrorist and violent extremist content and child sex abuse material.
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Recent Initiatives

Canada was delighted to welcome the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Cyber & Digital, Paul Ash, to Ottawa as a keynote speaker at Public Safety Canada’s week-long conference, “What to Measure, How to Prevent”, an international conference on preventing violent extremism. At the conference, he shared a video message from Christchurch Call Special Envoy Jacinda Ardern to the 300 participants from 16 countries aimed at strengthening awareness of the Christchurch Call and grow the community. At the same conference, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety announced $25 million in new funding through Public Safety Canada’s Community Resilience Fund to help fight radicalization here at home, including several projects related to the Christchurch Call and its commitments.

The Government of Canada also launched the Digital Citizen Initiative (DCI) at the Department of Canadian Heritage to support democracy, social inclusion and a healthier online environment in Canada by building citizen resilience against online disinformation and other online harms and threats, including terrorist and violent extremist content. The Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP) supports these priorities by providing funding to third party organizations undertaking research and carrying out learning activities such as public awareness tools and online workshops. Since 2020, the DCCP has supported 110 projects to help Canadians become more resilient and think critically about the information they consume online. This complements the work of law enforcement, where the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), along with other law enforcement agencies, continue to work with key partners in developing and implementing countering-radicalization to violence initiatives and community outreach. The RCMP, through the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Counter-Terrorism and National Security Committee, continues to champion work in the countering radicalization space.

In September, Canada and the Netherlands launched the Global Declaration on Information Integrity Online, which brings together 32 countries to protect our information ecosystems, including international commitments to uphold information integrity online and strengthen our responses to the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence. Through the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, we continue to advocate for improved digital industry responses to terrorist and violent extremist content around the world.

The Government of Canada believes that working with allies and likeminded partners is essential to countering violent extremism and terrorism over the longer-term, both online and offline. This includes sharing views, perspectives, and best practices to ensure a coherent, coordinated, and complementary approach. For this reason, Canada leverages a whole of society approach, involving government, industry, civil society, and academia in its efforts to address this threat

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