Human Rights Talks

Disinformation in Canada: How investigative journalist Rachel Gilmore uses online platforms to debunk disinformation

In this episode, we talk to Rachel Gilmore about Canadian politics and disinformation, both foreign and domestic. Rachel Gilmore is an award-winning journalist with extensive experience reporting on federal politics, disinformation, and extremism. She uses her experience and platforms to explains and debunk online disinformation. We talk about the state of journalism and how traditional media could reach online audiences. We also cover the misogynistic threats and comments against Rachel and the sustained online abuse she receives. 

You can find Rachel's work on YouTube and Tik Tok, and subscribe to her Podcast and Substack, Bubble Pop with Rachel Gilmore. 

This episode is part of a special project supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Titled Digital Defenders Initiative, the aim of the project is to uncover transnational repression and foreign manipulation campaigns in Canada, and their impact on the diaspora. 

Influence étrangère au Canada : YouTube, TikTok, WeChat et les applications qui passent parfois sous le radar

Entrevue avec le journaliste à Radio-Canada, Nicholas de Rosa, au sujet de l'influence étrangère et la désinformation au Canada, particulièrement sur des plateformes et réseaux tels que TikTok, youTube, WeChat, WhatsApp mais aussi sur X maintenant la compagnie est gérée par Elon Musk. Nous discutons aussi du Rapport de la Commission sur l'influence étrangère. 

Cet épisode fait partie d’un projet soutenu par le ministère du Patrimoine canadien. Intitulé Digital Defenders Initiative, le projet vise à mettre au jour les campagnes de répression transnationale et de manipulation étrangère au Canada, ainsi que leurs impacts sur la diaspora.

Hong Kong: Escalation of Transnational Repression against Hong Kongers in Canada

In this podcast episode, we speak to Katherine Leung, Policy Advisor for Hong Kong Watch. The Hong Kong national security police recently issued a new wave of arrest warrants against six overseas Hong Kong rights defenders in the UK and Canada. We speak to Katherine about growing transnational repression against Hong Kongers in Canada and how that impacts the ability of community members to fully participate in Canadian democracy. Katherine also speaks about Canada's Foreign Interference Commission and where it may fall short.

This episode is part of a special project supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Titled Digital Defenders Initiative, the aim of the project is to uncover transnational repression and foreign manipulation campaigns in Canada, and their impact on the diaspora. 

The Real-Life Impact of Transnational Repression: Iranian activist Maryam Shafipour Speaks Out

Today on the podcast, we speak to Iranian human rights activist Maryam Shafipour about Iranian-Canadians who say they are being threatened and monitored by affiliates of the Iranian regime in Canada. 

Following seven months of pre-trial detention in Evin Prison, Maryam was sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2014. She was released after 2 years and found refuge in North America where she continues her activism. 

This episode is part of a special project supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Titled Digital Defenders Initiative, the aim of the project is to uncover transnational repression and foreign manipulation campaigns in Canada, and their impact on the diaspora. 

Messaging Apps and the Spread of Disinformation

In this episode of Human Rights Talks, we talk to Samuel Woolley, the Dietrich Endowed Chair in Disinformation Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Samuel talks about the role of encrypted messaging apps in spreading mis-and disinformation, how it impacts diaspora communities in particular and democracy more generally, and how some organizations are fighting back.

Samuel Woolley is a writer and researcher specializing in the study of automation/artificial intelligence, emergent technology, politics, persuasion and social media. He is currently the Dietrich Endowed Chair in Disinformation Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Previously he founded the Propaganda Research Lab, Center for Media Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. He also founded and directed the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future, a 50-year-old think tank based in the heart of Silicon Valley. He also cofounded and directed the research team at the Computational Propaganda Project at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. He has written on political manipulation of technology for a variety of publications including Wired, The Atlantic, Motherboard VICE, TechCrunch, The Guardian, Quartz and Slate. His work has been presented to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the US Congress, the UK Parliament and to numerous private entities and civil society organizations. 

Digital Transnational Repression in Canada: When the Chinese Government Targets the Diaspora

In this episode of Human Rights Talks, we talk to Samuel Cooper about how the Chinese government and Chinese officials and proxies engage n transnational repression in Canada

Sam Cooper is an award-winning investigative journalist and best-selling author, who has presented his anti-corruption findings to Canadian law enforcement agencies, officials in the Pentagon, financial and legal professionals, and academics. He was a reporter for The Province and Vancouver Sun in British Columbia, and Global News in Ottawa. He has won a number of awards for narrative reporting and his first book in titled "Wilful Blindness. 

This episode is part of a special project supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage. Titled Digital Defenders Initiative, the aim of the project is to uncover transnational repression and foreign manipulation campaigns in Canada, and their impact on the diaspora. 

Digital Diasporas, Messaging Apps and the Transnational Disinformation Threats

In this episode of Human Rights Talks, Shelly Ghai Bajaj (University of Waterloo) talks about the use of chat apps by diaspora communities in Canada. Shelly explores the flow, spread, and transfer of mis/disinformation on private chat and closed direct messaging apps among ethnocultural diasporic communities. Whether its about public health or politics, transnational disinformation creates multiple challenges for communities and for democracy. 

Shelly Ghai Bajaj (Ph.D., University of Toronto, 2022) is a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr. Bessma Momani on projects relating to identity, democracy, disinformation, and social media. She studies comparative politics of both developing and advanced industrial democracies and is interested in the politics of identity and ethnonationalist mobilization, political parties and party strategy, the use of social media by political actors, and South Asian politics

 

Répression transnationale et influence étrangère au Canada

Dans cette discussion avec Fanny Tan, journaliste techno et chercheure à l'Observatoire des conflits multidimensionnels à la Chaire Raoul Dandurand de l'Uqam, nous parlons de la repression transnational et des campagnes de manipulation étrangère au Canada. Ce balado se fait dans le cadre d'un projet soutenu par Patrimoine Canada intitulé "Initiative des défenseurs du numérique". 

Veuillez noter que le MIGS se nomme désormais le Centre Montreal pour la Sécurite Globale

Behind the curtain: Beijing’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine'

In the lead up to the Montreal International Security Summit on China and the Indo-Pacific, which will take place on 16-17 October, MIGS hosted a X Spaces discussion with Maria Shagina (Diamond-Brown Senior Research Fellow, IISS) and Dr Justyna Szczudlik (Head of Asia Pacific Programme, PISM). This is a podcast episode version of the discussion. 

China’s Digital Silk Road: from technology to repression

In the lead up to the Montreal International Security Summit, which will take place on 16-17 October, MIGS hosted a X Spaces discussion on China and the Indo-Pacific with Michael Caster (Asia Digital program Manager, Article 19).