Newly released documents from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request have revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris was actively involved in efforts to suppress social media support for the Canadian Freedom Convoy. The DHS’s Disinformation Governance Board, according to emails from February 2022, monitored the convoy and worked with major tech companies to censor what they labeled as “misinformation.”
The Freedom Convoy, which saw significant disruptions at key border crossings such as the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, began as a protest against cross-border vaccine mandates. However, it quickly expanded into a broader opposition to various COVID-19 measures, including vaccine passports. The movement gained significant momentum, raising millions of dollars in donations, which led Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invoke the Emergencies Act, freezing the bank accounts of many involved in the protests.
The convoy also coincided with a wave of policy changes in Canada, with several provinces easing restrictions in response to the widespread dissent. Despite the movement’s influence, its leaders faced legal challenges, particularly those involved in the Coutts, Alberta protests. While they were accused of conspiring to murder police, the charges were ultimately dismissed.
The FOIA documents raise important questions about the role of the U.S. government in influencing the narrative around the Canadian Freedom Convoy, particularly through coordination with social media platforms to limit the spread of information.
