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Legal Battle Over Canadian Military Propaganda Records Intensifies
A legal battle is underway as Emma Briant, an associate professor at Monash University in Australia, is challenging the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) in court. Briant is seeking the release of documents detailing Canadian military propaganda campaigns, including the controversial 2020 “fake wolves” exercise, which stirred public concern.
The court application, filed on September 27 in Vancouver, aims to shed light on various Canadian military initiatives designed to manipulate public perception. Briant, a specialist in military propaganda, has accused the DND of withholding critical information about these operations, including efforts to influence Canadian citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada previously ruled that DND violated Briant’s rights by not releasing the requested documents.
Propaganda Schemes Under Scrutiny
Briant’s legal case focuses on exposing the military’s tactics, including a 2020 exercise in Nova Scotia where the military fabricated stories about wolves on the loose, causing public panic. The exercise, meant to test propaganda techniques, backfired and drew significant media attention, with some suggesting that the military attempted to cover it up by falsely blaming “Russian disinformation.”
Briant’s earlier research, published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, revealed the Canadian Armed Forces spent over $1 million on public behavior modification training, akin to strategies used by Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 U.S. election scandal. Additionally, the military was found to have monitored social media accounts during the pandemic, justifying the data collection as necessary for operations in long-term care homes.
Military Response and Ongoing Controversies
DND spokesperson Alex Tétreault stated that privacy requests are handled according to the law but admitted that delays may occur. Despite internal investigations revealing that certain actions violated government rules, no military personnel faced disciplinary action. The military’s involvement in monitoring movements such as Black Lives Matter and employing propaganda tactics similar to those used in Afghanistan also raised concerns.
One notable issue is the military’s alleged attempt to use Russian disinformation claims to discredit Briant’s work and downplay the “fake wolves” fiasco. Records obtained by Briant indicate that military public affairs officers were in contact with a U.S. expert who tried to promote this narrative.
Briant’s request for records, submitted in February 2024, was motivated by efforts within the Canadian Forces to deflect blame for the failed wolf propaganda exercise. Her lawsuit aims to hold the DND accountable and bring transparency to the military’s public influence operations.
As the court case proceeds, it brings into question the Canadian military’s role in influencing public opinion and the extent to which disinformation is employed to deflect criticism. The revelations have sparked renewed public debate about the ethics of such operations and their impact on Canadian democracy.
Key Takeaways:
- Emma Briant is suing the Canadian Department of National Defence for access to documents related to military propaganda schemes.
- The 2020 “fake wolves” exercise, which caused public panic, is at the center of the controversy.
- Briant alleges that the military attempted to deflect blame by promoting false claims of “Russian disinformation.”
- This legal battle could reveal the extent of the Canadian military’s involvement in public influence operations and raise questions about transparency and accountability.
Source: MSN
