Foreign actor interference
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Foreign Actor Interference is an illegal activity undertaken at the direction or the benefit of a foreign government that targets Canadian interests or interferes in Canadian society and threatens Canada's national security. These threats to Canada's national security may be evident, concealed or deceptive. Foreign actors engage in a broad range of activities that break Canadian laws, including but not limited to:
- intimidation or harassment of diaspora communities (that is manipulation of traditional and social media)
- theft of information protected by the Canadian, provincial or territorial government and private intellectual property including trade secrets
- hacking or cyberattacks which threaten critical infrastructure
Types of foreign actor interference
Illegal acquirement of technology or knowledge
Illegal acquirement of technology or knowledge is the theft of information that the federal or provincial government has taken measures to safeguard. It also includes intellectual property or trade secrets which are stolen at the direction or to the benefit of a foreign government or entity.
Community intimidation and harassment
Community intimidation and harassment occurs when threats of violence compel a person to do, or not do, an action that is supportive of a foreign state. It can include the illegal interception of communication, following or monitoring a person to compel them to take, or not undertake an activity, as well as foreign representatives intimidating individuals within Canada.
Other
Other examples of foreign actor interference are illegal cyberattacks or hacking to sabotage, interfere, or obtain data at the direction or to the benefit of a foreign government or their proxies. (i.e.: hacking into critical infrastructure systems).
Our role
The RCMP and the broader Canadian security and intelligence community have a clear role to play in protecting Canada and Canadians from Foreign Actor Interference. The RCMP's National Security Program investigates threats to the security of Canada by upholding various laws to prevent offences and bring those who do to justice.
Applicable legislation includes the Security Offences Act, the Security of Information Act , the Criminal Code, the Export and Import Permits Act, and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to name a few.
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