Public Safety Committee on Nov. 21st, 2024

[Lauren Southern]

Once again, as I said in my opening speech, there were individuals, who were witnesses to this committee who went unchallenged, who claimed that Tenet Media made one of the number one podcasts in the world, The Rubin Report. The Rubin Report was created 10 years before Tenet even existed and had no association with Tenet Media. Dave Rubin's—God bless him—show at Tenet Media struggled to even reach hundreds of views, yet that level of misinformation was coming from within these very walls.

Forgive me if I seem like I am downplaying what is going on, but there has been a great exaggeration to the point of lying within this committee about the level of foreign interference happening. The biggest concern I have is the regular Canadians who I interviewed who inspired my videos and my content who are being slandered as Russian disinformation rather than the people here who might be disturbed by my correcting the record.

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqwinder Gaheer]

Thank you, Madam Michaud.

Mr. Johns, go ahead for six minutes, please.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Ms. Southern, before collaborating with other influencers, what steps do you take to ensure that the media in which you are appearing is acting lawfully?

[Lauren Southern]

What steps do I take to ensure the media I'm appearing in is acting lawfully?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Yes.

[Lauren Southern]

As much as I would love to be able to afford a private investigator to go and confirm every contract I sign, in 10 years of working with someone in the same industry and being given a very standard boilerplate contract that I would get from any other company, I've never had this happen before. I think, in retrospect, it's easy to say that I should have done more investigation, but what investigation would you have done in my shoes?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I think it's important to do due diligence. You have a significant following on social media platforms where misinformation can spread rapidly. How do you ensure that the content you share is not used by foreign entities to amplify narratives that undermine Canadian democracy or national security?

[Lauren Southern]

Are you accusing me of spreading narratives that have undermined democracy?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm just asking you a question in terms of how you ensure that the content you share is not used by foreign entities to amplify narratives that undermine Canadian democracy or national security. What measures do you take?

[Lauren Southern]

I ensure that every contract I sign and have ever signed in media gives me full creative control of every single thing I say and publish. That's how I ensure it.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

There are concerns that individuals or groups may be unintentionally aiding foreign governments in spreading divisive narratives. How do you respond to allegations that your online content has been used to further Russian propaganda or influence Canadian public opinion?

[Lauren Southern]

As far as I'm aware, just this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a pause to immigration or a decrease in immigration for the next three years, citing unsustainable growth. This is one of the critiques that has been my main critique on Tenet Media and off Tenet Media. Having it portrayed as Russian disinformation by this committee or even aiding and abetting Russians has been very interesting. I understand that I may have been right too early on this issue, so I must be socially punished by this regime. Although much too late, I happen to believe that Justin Trudeau is making the correct decision there.

I would hope that this committee wouldn't advocate Canadians to stop drinking water or wearing seat belts because someone with the last name Ivanov or Petrov suggested it was a good idea.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

That's not what we're asking.

What is your stance on foreign interference in Canadian elections and political discourse? Do you believe there is a clear and present danger from foreign actors such as Russia? If so, what responsibility do individuals like you bear in preventing the spread of foreign influence? Do you take any responsibility?

[Lauren Southern]

I was a commentator for a channel who had full control over the videos I made, and I ensured they were truthful. If you want to point to anything I have said that has been disinformation or aiding and abetting—

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm actually asking what you believe. Do you believe there is a clear and present danger from foreign actors such as Russia? If so, what responsibility do you believe individuals like yourself in your platform have to aid in preventing the spread of foreign influence?

[Lauren Southern]

I think it is rich that I am sitting here and am being asked what I have to do to stop foreign influence and foreign interference—as a Canadian citizen, while we sit here with MPs like Jennifer O'Connell, who said “boo hoo” to Conservatives who wanted actually elected politicians working with foreign governments to be exposed. I am a regular Canadian.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

So, I take it that you don't take any responsibility.

[Jennifer O'Connell, Liberal, Pickering—Uxbridge, ON]

[Inaudible—Editor] too.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm sorry, but it's not your turn, Ms. O'Connell. I'm going to continue.

How do you reconcile your business model, which prioritizes user engagement and raking in massive profits from clicks, with the necessity to protect users from harmful disinformation that can lead to real-world consequences like hate-based violence?

[Lauren Southern]

How is anyone in this committee supposed to stop disinformation abroad if they can't stop it within this committee? Why wasn't Ben Scott challenged when he cited false numbers about Tenet's views? Why wasn't he challenged when it was said that Tenet created the top podcast in the world, that it was getting billions of impressions? If we cannot stop disinformation within this committee, then I'm sorry, but no one here is stopping disinformation coming from abroad or foreign interference.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

What effects do you believe your content has on Canadians?

[Lauren Southern]

I think I speak for the majority of Canadians. I think I speak for people who don't have a voice in this government. I think I speak for people who feel they have been censored and shut up for too long by the mainstream media, and I'm proud of it.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm glad we're talking about how you personally feel. Can you speak about how you feel about your online content, since it was aiding in objectives that were planned, plotted and executed in the Kremlin?

[Lauren Southern]

Would you say that Justin Trudeau's reduction of immigration is aiding and abetting the Kremlin? Should he be pulled in here because he had the same ideas that I had?