Feds raise concern over 'Islamophobic' campaign

Israel denies role in alleged public influence scheme

- STEPHANIE LEVITZ, ALEX BALLINGALL AND MARK RAMZY

The federal government says it has raised concerns directly with Israel over allegations of a "co-ordinated" and "Islamophobic" misinformation campaign that targeted Canadians online.

The government disclosed this to the Star when asked about a recent report in a prominent Israeli newspaper, which alleged that a branch of the Israeli state hired a private firm that conducted an operation to sway public opinion in Canada and the United States over its conduct during the ongoing war in Gaza.

In a statement to the Star, Global Affairs spokesperson James Emmanuel Wanki said the department's Rapid Response Mechanism a body that monitors for "foreign state-sponsored misinformation" is investigating the allegations, but has not been able to "decisively attribute" the campaign to a state actor.

Still, Wanki said, the Rapid Response Mechanism has corroborated "elements" of the allegations, which he later declined to specify.

"Global Affairs is concerned by reports of a divisive, co-ordinated, Islamophobic, and inauthentic information campaign targeting Canadians on social media platforms," Wanki's statement said.

"We have conveyed our concerns over these allegations directly to the government of Israel."

The Israeli Embassy in Ottawa did not respond to a request for comment from the Star on Monday. Israel's government has denied involvement in the alleged campaign.