Evidence of meeting #130 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was videos.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
I don't know how much time I have left, but I have two thoughts from your answers to other questions.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
You indicated that when you were in Russia, you had concerns about some other interviews you had done. You chose not to broadcast or release those interviews. You didn't explain why.
As an Individual
There was an individual who told me they could set up interviews in Russia for me. Initially, I was excited about this because they were able to get access to quite prominent figures. As things went on, they were pushing me to do content and work, which, once again.... If I feel anyone is pushing me to share ideas, I push back.
They were trying to get me to go and do a film on the Donbass region, in 2018. I found this strange. Obviously, I didn't know there was going to be an invasion that would happen at any point. Being offered all access to that area, military access, seemed suspicious to me. I rejected doing the film and deleted all the other interviews that I had conducted—or refused to publish them, rather—that were in connection with this individual.
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
Thank you for that clarity.
You made a very direct and scathing comment about your opinion of the current media landscape in this country. Can you expand on that a little bit? Obviously, other people have concerns as well. Can you expand on what you were referring to in your description?
As an Individual
I have been doing YouTube for 10 years. When I started doing YouTube, it was individuals who were interested in sharing their opinions and beliefs, without compensation, and who genuinely cared about issues.
Over the past 10 years—
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
What I'm referring to is this. When you responded to Mr. Johns' question, you talked about receiving compensation and made reference to the media outlets that exist today, the national media outlets, receiving compensation from, potentially, places in this globe that are hostile to our democracy in Canada.
November 21st, 2024 / 5:10 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. What I was getting at is that I believe there is a.... I would have to give a written response, later, with the details, but based on my time—
As an Individual
Yes, I can.
Based on the time I've spent in media over those 10 years, I believe that a large majority of content is being influenced by corporations, domestic government or foreign government, or being paid for. I would say that half of the contributions, likes and views on content are now all botted. They are not legitimate, genuine views. They are being astroturfed.
This is part of the reason that I am personally stepping away from partaking in social media myself. I don't believe that a lot of the Internet we are engaging with today is real people. It is very different. You can feel it, if you spent time on the Internet 10 years ago.
Liberal
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Ms. Southern, have you been contacted by Canadian or American law enforcement about your role in the Russian-run Tenet Media op, given the U.S. indictment?
As an Individual
Yes. As I mentioned, CSIS came to my house while I was making dinner for my child and tried to speak with me. They did so in a way that I was not comfortable with. I have also, quite frankly, experienced quite a bit of harassment and stalking from them, when I told them I did not want to speak. They called me dozens of times. They found my gym. They told me, essentially, that if I did not become an informant for them...that I love being a mother, I love my child and I would love to see him grow up and to be there to provide for him, and it would be a shame if something happened to me.
I'm not too impressed with the state of law enforcement in this country right now, to be honest.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Are you aware that the content you created for Tenet Media's Russian disinformation campaign is still available on Tenet's Rumble page?
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Have you spoken to Lauren Chen or Liam Donovan since the U.S. indictment?
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Will you use this opportunity today to call on Tenet to remove any and all content created by you from their Rumble and X accounts?
As an Individual
No. All the content I made was of my own volition, based on my own opinions and free speech, so I'm happy for that content to still be out there. Quite frankly, I spent a lot of money making some beautiful documentaries in which hard-working Canadians are featured. These are Canadians who put themselves out there and are now being slandered as Russian disinformation. I think that's a real shame.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
TikTok, Meta and YouTube have all removed Tenet Media from their platforms using the U.S. indictment. X, formerly known as Twitter, has not.
Why do you think that is the case?
As an Individual
I have no idea. I don't work for these social media companies.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Knowing what you do now about Tenet Media and where their money was coming from, would you do anything differently?
