Russian funding of Tenet Media influencers exposes vulnerabilities in Canada’s information ecosystem
Our final debrief report on Russian Funding of US and Canadian Political Influencers.
December 10, 2024
The Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN) concludes its investigation into Russian funding of influencers through Tenet Media, exposing vulnerabilities in Canada’s information ecosystem and the role of foreign actors in shaping public discourse.
On September 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted two Russian nationals for allegedly funding Tenet Media, a company founded by Canadians Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan, to covertly amplify Russian propaganda. With $10 million USD in alleged funding, Tenet Media recruited prominent social media influencers (five Americans and one Canadian) that were already Russian aligned and divisive voices in the West. For the full summary of the incident, click here.
Our investigation shows no evidence that Tenet Media or its influencers directly influenced Canadian politicians. Tenet Media influencers, with significant followings in Canada, frequently align their content with Russian objectives of sowing distrust and division. Their messaging, often critical of Canadian public policy and political figures, is amplified further as other Canadian influencers repurpose and share this content with their own audiences.
We conclude this incident with four significant lessons learned:
Influencers are a potent vector for foreign information operations
The Canadian information ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to US-based dynamics and influence
Communities with narrow information streams are particularly vulnerable
How Canadians respond to information incidents continues to make the problem worse
“This incident is a reminder that foreign actors can exploit influencers to erode trust in democratic institutions, and that strengthening public awareness and resilience is crucial to protect Canada’s public discourse,” says Aengus Bridgman, Director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory.
You can read the full report here.
This incident debrief is issued by the Canadian Digital Media Research Network (CDMRN). Incident response team member organizations include Disinfowatch, the PolCommTech Research Lab, the Media Ecosystem Observatory, and Carleton University.
The CDMRN’s incident response protocol is designed to help provide rapid awareness of and insights on information incidents, enable learning from these incidents, and enhance resilience within Canada’s information ecosystem, equipping Canadians to navigate the challenges of the digital age effectively.
About the Canadian Digital Media Research Network: The CDMRN is a pioneering initiative led by the Media Ecosystem Observatory, an interdisciplinary collaboration between McGill University and the University of Toronto PEARL that studies information ecosystem health.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Isabelle Corriveau, Senior Manager, Public Engagement and Communication
Media Ecosystem Observatory ︱Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy