A former Canadian military intelligence officer is warning that artificial intelligence, digital surveillance and other emerging technologies pose a “real concern” to Canadians and require stronger oversight as their capabilities expand.
Joe Varner, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute with expertise in intelligence, international security, and geostrategy, made the comments during an interview on Straight Up with Marc Patrone following Juno News’ disclosure of a previously top-secret Canadian Forces Intelligence Command assessment on digital authoritarianism.
The 2024 Canadian Forces Intelligence Command (CFINTCOM ) assessment, obtained through access-to-information, examines how authoritarian governments, including China and Russia, use technology to monitor populations and strengthen state control.
