Canada faces 'Spamouflage': Chinese-linked campaign targets Trudeau and MPs in social media assault

A sophisticated 'Spamouflage' campaign, believed to be linked to China, has targeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several MPs. The campaign, employing a bot network, inundated social media accounts with thousands of comments containing nefarious claims, raising concerns about foreign interference and disinformation.

Despite the alarming situation, critics argue that the Canadian government is not taking decisive action against the 'Spamouflage' onslaught. CTV News reported that the federal government's 'Rapid Response Mechanism' (RRM) detected the campaign but questions persist about the adequacy of the response to this orchestrated social media assault.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) stated that the 'Spamouflage' campaign can be traced back to the People's Republic of China. The campaign, initiated in August and intensifying over a long weekend in September, targeted MPs from various political affiliations, both in English and French, on platforms like Facebook and 'X'.

The deluge of posts orchestrated by the bot network alleged criminal and ethical violations by MPs critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Canadian government's RRM reported claims suggesting the "likely use" of deep fake videos, aiming to discredit and denigrate targeted politicians.

Concerns raised about cybersecurity and lack of information

Liberal MP Omar Alghabra revealed that he was notified of being targeted in the 'Spamouflage' campaign. Despite reassurances of "no direct threat," concerns about the cybersecurity implications and lack of detailed information persist among the affected MPs.

'Spamouflage' is identified as a tactic utilising networks of new or hijacked social media accounts to spread propaganda messages. The Canadian government's foreign state-sponsored disinformation monitoring team outlined the campaign's goal, aiming to create seemingly organic posts discrediting MPs and silencing criticism of the CCP.

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair confirmed that cybersecurity experts are actively investigating the extent of the 'Spamouflage' attack. Determining the full impact on Canadian government officials remains a priority as the government works to secure digital spaces.

The bot networks responsible for the recent 'Spamouflage' campaign have a history of spreading disinformation. Global Affairs Canada reached out to Meta and 'X,' and platforms are reportedly in the process of removing the malicious content. Past instances of foreign interference in Canadian affairs have prompted increased vigilance.

Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong criticised the Liberal government's response, calling for stronger measures to protect Canadians from threats by authoritarian governments. The ongoing public inquiry into foreign interference is seen as a crucial step, but concerns linger about the adequacy of current safeguards.

Global Affairs Canada emphasised its commitment to monitor and address disinformation campaigns, recognizing the potential to undermine Canada's democracy. While MPs have been briefed on the findings, questions remain about the government's future actions to counter such cyber threats and ensure the safety of its officials.