Canadian Army reservist, Patrik Mathews, arrested in the US by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Mathews has ties to a violent neo-Nazi group.

An internal memo obtained by National Observer shows the government misunderstood the platform, which spread misinformation ahead of the federal vote in October.

Currently, nearly three billion people — 89 per cent of internet users — are under surveillance by advanced social media monitoring systems used by governments and law enforcement agencies, according to Freedom House. This number has grown rapidly in recent years, with many countries justifying these efforts “in the name of enhancing security, limiting disinformation, and ensuring public order.” 

“This could be ineffective and still ultimately not be in the spirit of free and fair elections," said Fenwick McKelvey, an associate professor at Concordia University who studied political memes during the federal vote.