Accounts bearing the name United Citizens for Canada posted content on social media portraying Canadian Muslims as threatening Western values, and suggesting pro-Palestinian protesters in Canada were seeking to implement Shariah law.

Accounts bearing the name United Citizens for Canada posted content on social media portraying Canadian Muslims as threatening Western values, and suggesting pro-Palestinian protesters in Canada were seeking to implement Shariah law.

The Digital Forensic Research Lab, a project run by the Atlantic Council, a prominent Washington think tank, first called out the posts in a March analysis.

It noted that the campaign employed artificial intelligence to change words being said by a man with a beard and Muslim skullcap at a rally. It also noted a photo of Muslims holding a banner was digitally altered, making the poster read “Shariah for Canada.”

“The network, which included at least 50 accounts on Facebook, 18 on Instagram and more than one hundred on X, boosted anti-Muslim and Islamophobic narratives directed at Canadian audiences,” the March analysis reads.

The accounts used AI-generated profile pictures and repeatedly posted similar messages, often seeking to garner press coverage directly from individual Canadian journalists and media outlets. One post on Instagram warns people to be wary “if anti-Liberal Islam wants to enter your hockey team.”

  • LostWon
    4·
    7 months ago

    My first thought before reading was that it’s a shame of course, but not a surprise. While reading, I didn’t see (or missed?) if charges are going to be laid in this case. Maybe they’re just gathering info on who to charge? Surely there have to be existing laws that suffice.

    I tried to find where Haaretz wrote about STOIC (as referenced in this article), and instead came across an article about STOIC having had a campaign to influence lawmakers. (It’s paywalled, but the comments section is interesting.) There’s also a headline off that page about a march of nationalist Israelis through “the Palestinian area of Jerusalem,” chanting:

    warning - antagonistic and hate-filled words

    “Death to Arabs.”