Information & Ethics committee  The alleged police stations.... It's still very much an active and ongoing investigation. Therefore, I can't provide any further details on that, as it could compromise the investigation.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll take that one, Mr. Chair. The RCMP didn't have an investigation under way during the 2019 and 2021 elections. If, in a future election, there are allegations of foreign interference, we can intervene on an ad hoc or on request basis. We share this mandate with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections.

Information & Ethics committee  Are you talking about an investigation?

Information & Ethics committee  With respect to our actions, we investigate all allegations of criminal activity that we receive. As soon as we receive them, a file is opened and a team is assigned to it.

Information & Ethics committee  We have a variety of ways to warn people. Of course, there are investigative techniques that we can't disclose, since this is sensitive information, but communication with society and the people concerned, among others, is a way of fighting foreign interference.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Chair, there are a variety of means that China and other foreign actors use to target dissidents and conduct foreign interference activities. The use of social media is definitely one of those means.

Information & Ethics committee  That's a good question, but I can't answer it precisely.

Information & Ethics committee  That interference is much more difficult to detect. That's why education is important. People need to be aware that they can be monitored by foreign entities through social media. Therefore, it's important that we, the national security community and members of the RCMP in general, have engagement programs with the public, private entities and more vulnerable communities to educate people about the different ways or various mechanisms used by foreign entities to engage in interference activities.

Information & Ethics committee  You raise an important point, Mr. Villemure. Despite that fact, I think we have to continue to educate people. You can't stop educating people based on that premise. It's important to continue that education and to use different ways to do it. This is a problem that affects the government in general.

Information & Ethics committee  The presence of artificial intelligence definitely creates big barriers. It challenges the way we can conduct investigations. I'll give an example. If you're investigating a threat on social media, or if someone is making a threat through an online platform, part of our investigation is to authenticate that video.

Information & Ethics committee  We're looking at that. However, if a Canadian is threatened or the Canadian public safety or national security of Canada is threatened, that gives us the authority to act.

Information & Ethics committee  There you go.

Information & Ethics committee  I can't give you specific examples of foreign interference caused by artificial intelligence, but I can certainly note that question and send you a more complete answer.

Information & Ethics committee  Absolutely. That would be a great idea. To my knowledge, educating young people about the dangers of social media is part of the school curriculum.

Information & Ethics committee  I'll take that question, Mr. Chair. What the national security program does is investigate criminal activities. We don't investigate social media, and we don't investigate if there's misinformation, disinformation or influence. If the criminal activities pertain to foreign interference, we absolutely will investigate that under our mandate.