Nearly 1 in 10 terrorism investigations at CSIS involves a minor: spy boss | CBC News

The head of Canada’s spy agency is warning about a “worrying” number of young people becoming radicalized. 

In his first annual address, Canadian Security Intelligence Service  (CSIS) Director Dan Rogers said violent extremism — be it motivated by religion, or ideological or political views — “persists as one of Canada’s most significant national security concerns.” 

“Worryingly, nearly one in 10 terrorism investigations at CSIS now includes at least one subject of investigation under the age of 18,” Rogers said to a crowd of invited guests at the National Art Centre in downtown Ottawa. 

He pointed to an August case where a minor was arrested in Montreal for allegedly planning an attack on behalf of Daesh, also known as ISIS.

A few months earlier, the RCMP arrested a 15-year-old Edmonton area minor for alleged links to an online network of violent extremism known as 764. The network is known for preying on children and youth.

The RCMP has also charged two 15-year-olds in Ottawa for allegedly plotting a mass casualty attack against the Jewish community.

Violent extremists are motivated by an often personalized set of beliefs, said Rogers, including xenophobia, accelerationism, nihilism, anti-Semitism, misogyny, extreme interpretations of religion, and more. 

“They find inspiration and motivation in the events and trends that polarize society or cause them to lose hope for the future,” said Rogers.  And, they easily access and amplify content online that radicalizes them and reinforces their view that violence is justified to achieve their extremist goals.

Fortunately, he said, only small number of youth or adults with extreme views resort to violence.

“But when they do, the consequences are devastating.”

The CSIS director said  since 2014, there have been 20 violent extremist attacks in Canada resulting in 29 deaths, and at least 60 victims, and credited his employees and law enforcement for stopping more.

“Eroding social cohesion, increasing polarization, and significant global events provide fertile ground for radicalization and many who turn to violence radicalize exclusively online — often without direction from others,” said Rogers. 

“They use technology to do so secretly and anonymously, seriously challenging the ability of our investigators to keep pace and to identify and prevent acts of violence. “

Rogers added societal support for youth can help curb radicalization early and prevent it.

China, Russia continue to target Canada: Rogers

The speech also touched on the foreign interference and espionage, noting both China and Russia are interested in what goes on in Canada’s Arctic.

China, said Rogers, is seeking an economic foothold in the region, while Russia’s Arctic posture “remains unpredictable and aggressive.”

China also continues to target Canada for classified and sensitive information.

“Chinese spies have tried to recruit Canadians with access to government plans, intentions, information, and military expertise, through social media and online job platforms,” he said.

CSIS has warned about the risk of Chinese foreign interference for years now. The latest comments from the intelligence agency comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney appears determined to repair relations with Beijing.

Carney held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last month, marking the first formal leader-to-leader contact between the two nations since 2017. 

Asked what conversations CSIS is having with Carney about China, Rogers said the agency’s role is “unchanged.”

“We provide the government with intelligence and advice on national security threats. That has not stopped, it continues very actively,” he said.

“I would say that as the shifting nature of relationships between Canada and China, or Canada and any other country evolve, we’re gonna have to evolve our operations to make sure that the right intelligence gets to the government.“

Canadians asked to be ‘eyes wide open’ on data storage

He also raised the issue of data storage, noting vast amounts of Canadians’ data are increasingly being held outside of Canada. 

“This arms states who may choose to act against Canada’s interests with new ways to weaponize data and information,” he said.   

Asked to elaborate during the media questions and answer period, he said the government may need to consider policy options which is “outside of CSIS’s lane.” 

“The fix will be complicated,” he said. “When we’ve spoken publicly before about certain types of data, it’s to be able to make sure that Canadians are eyes wide open on where they’re putting their data and what kind of platforms and who that data is  under control of.” 

The former CSIS director, David Vigneault , was vocal in his concerns about TikTok, saying “there is a very clear strategy on the part of the government of China” to collect personal information.

It’s Rogers’s first speech since he took helm of the spy agency late last year. His predecessor started the tradition during his tenure.

“My intent is not to alarm. I want to reassure Canadians that CSIS, and the rest of Canada’s security and intelligence community, is here and working tirelessly in their best interests,” said Rogers.

“CSIS will continue to prioritize deliberately and ruthlessly, and become comfortable with an extraordinary pace of change.”

Before becoming the CSIS director, he served as the deputy national security and intelligence adviser to the prime minister and spent a decade before that working at the Communications Security Establishment, Canada’s foreign signals intelligence agency.