MONTRÉAL, Québec (CU)_The head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) says that military and intelligence services in Beijing have been gathering sensitive data on Canadians, most likely via cyberespionage.
During an address at the Centre for International Governance Innovation on Tuesday (Feb 9), David Vigneault, director of the CSIS, said China poses a serious strategic threat to the North American nation, and that this threat has caused “significant harm” to Canadian companies.
“In 2020, global news sources revealed that Zhenhua Data Technology, which primarily serves China’s military and intelligence services, had been gathering sensitive data on 2.4 million individuals for several years,” he said.
“Approximately 20 per cent of this data was not publicly available and likely accessed via cyberespionage.”
He added that while Canadian companies have been targeted by Beijing, some of them, particularly Canada’s biopharma and health sector, as well as firms involved in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, aerospace and ocean technology, have been compromised.
However, Vigneault stressed that the threat originated from China’s ruling Communist Party and not from the general public. The CSIS director also expressed concern over Beijing utilising all elements of state power to carry out activities that are a direct threat the national security and sovereignty of Canada.
Moreover, Vigneault talked about the technological limitations being brought about by the 1984 CSIS Act, which he claims is “better suited for the threats of the Cold War era”. He insisted that the legislation needs to be revised for the 21st century, since it currently impedes the agency’s ability to use modern tools, and assess data and information.
Under Vigneault’s leadership, the CSIS has become more outspoken, and experts say that this is likely due to the mounting frustration over the spy agency’s political masters who not do enough to address the problems.
