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MPs want Canadians connected to the purported influencer operation in Russia to appear before a committee

The committee plans to call both Chen and Donovan, along with Lauren Southern, another Tenet Media personality, to testify.

Ayushi Singh profile image
by Ayushi Singh
MPs want Canadians connected to the purported influencer operation in Russia to appear before a committee
Centre Block and the Peace Tower are seen past a metal fence along the lawn of Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. Members of Parliament on the public safety and national security committee voted unanimously to launch an investigation into an alleged Russian ploy to dupe right-wing influencers into sowing division among Americans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

MPs on the public safety and national security committee have unanimously agreed to investigate claims of a Russian scheme aimed at manipulating right-wing influencers to create division in the U.S. This follows a U.S. indictment earlier this month charging two RT (Russian state-controlled media) employees with orchestrating a $10-million plan, using social media figures to push Russian government messaging.

While the court documents don’t directly name them, the description aligns with Tenet Media, co-founded by Canadians Lauren Chen and Liam Donovan.

The committee plans to call both Chen and Donovan, along with Lauren Southern, another Tenet Media personality, to testify.

The motion, proposed by Liberal MP Pam Damoff and passed on Thursday, also intends to bring in civil society representatives and experts on disinformation to provide insight.

The indictment alleges that the Russians set up a fake investor to fund the hiring of influencers, with substantial payments made through a Canadian account to the company’s founders.

The U.S. Justice Department does not accuse the influencers of any illegal activity. However, in response to the indictment, YouTube has removed several channels linked to Chen, including Tenet Media's.

Ayushi Singh profile image
by Ayushi Singh

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