The federal government secretly monitored social media posts supportive of Israel as part of a broader effort to explore new ways to regulate online content, newly released documents show.Blacklock's Reporter says according to Access to Information records, the Department of Canadian Heritage paid a UK-based consultant $128,268 in 2024 to conduct online surveillance tied to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The goal, the documents say, was to identify “promising regulatory avenues to curb online content” deemed harmful.A project memo from the consultant, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, outlined the creation of a “digital mapping” initiative aimed at tracking misinformation, disinformation, hate and extremism tied to the October 7 Hamas attacks and their aftermath. .The effort included the establishment of a so-called “analytical situation room” focused on responses to social media content about the conflict.The department would not confirm which Twitter or Facebook accounts were monitored, citing privacy concerns.One internal summary noted particular focus on accounts sharing pro-Israel content. “Among the top performing tweets about the conflict that were shared among right wing extremists in Canada… were posts claiming Justin Trudeau had directly funded the Hamas attacks through contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency,” said the report titled Digital Analysis Situation Room And Rapid Response Programming For Israel-Gaza Extremism, Hate And Misinformation.The same report cited claims that groups such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the National Council of Canadian Muslims were attempting to bring terrorists to Canada — assertions that were “widely shared” on social media according to the dataset..Another memo noted “several influential accounts” had adopted strong pro-Israel stances since the October 7 attacks, with some equating support for Palestinian civilians with support for Hamas and terrorism.The surveillance project was framed as part of an international learning effort, with consultants pointing to European digital regulation models as potential blueprints for Canada. Records said the goal was to “empower Canadian citizens” while shaping future internet regulation policy.Cabinet has twice attempted to pass legislation that would allow censorship of legal online content — through Bill C-36 and Bill C-63 — but both efforts collapsed amid opposition from Conservative MPs, legal scholars, and free speech groups.Prime Minister Mark Carney, in an April 10 statement, said his government would act against “pollution that’s online,” but no new legislation has been introduced.
