Documents recently released through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request have exposed efforts by the Biden-Harris administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to censor online content related to the Canadian Freedom Convoy. Emails from February 2022 show that the DHS’s Disinformation Governance Board was closely monitoring the convoy protests and worked in tandem with social media platforms to curb what it categorized as “misinformation.”
The Freedom Convoy, which led to significant disruptions at U.S.-Canada border crossings, including the critical Ambassador Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, began as a protest against vaccine mandates imposed on cross-border truckers. However, it quickly expanded into a broader resistance against COVID-19 restrictions, gaining widespread support and raising millions of dollars in donations.
The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, responded by invoking the Emergencies Act, resulting in the freezing of bank accounts tied to convoy participants. These actions coincided with the relaxation of several COVID-19 restrictions across Canadian provinces, including the controversial vaccine passports.
Notably, some leaders of the Freedom Convoy who took part in protests at the Alberta border town of Coutts were accused of plotting to kill police officers, but they were ultimately acquitted of these charges. The FOIA revelations underscore concerns about the role of the U.S. government in influencing public opinion and limiting free speech, even in relation to foreign events.
