RCMP briefed MPs on cellphone spyware risks, foreign interference

The RCMP’s head of national security and protective policing warned MPs this week that foreign actors are most likely monitoring their digital devices.

Canada’s national police force has briefed MPs about the risk that foreign states are using sophisticated spyware to intercept their electronic communications, Global News has learned.

It’s not clear which states are believed to be spying on Canadian politicians, but the RCMP’s top national security official, Mark Flynn, told the House of Commons Ethics committee Monday that it’s likely they’re being targeted.

Asked what actions the Mounties are taking to protect politicians from electronic eavesdropping, the RCMP said that “on an ad hoc basis in the past” the force has briefed parliamentarians “regarding the vulnerabilities of wireless technologies and smart devices.”

“The RCMP is (also) aware that the House of Commons staff brief members of Parliament on the threat posed by foreign surveillance tools that may be deployed on mobile devices and provides them tools to aid in their security,” the force said in response to Global News’ questions.

The RCMP did not respond to questions about whether the force has found spyware on parliamentarians’ devices, or what actions the police are taking to ensure Canadian politicians’ communications are secure.

“Although the RCMP will not speak to specific operational matters or specific victims (or affiliations), the RCMP is involved in and has been involved in investigations of foreign espionage and foreign interference,” the force said in a statement.

“These investigations are multifaceted and could (and) would include investigations of foreign surveillance efforts of various types.”

The RCMP is under scrutiny for their own use of spyware technology that can covertly intercept encrypted communications, remotely turn on devices’ microphones or cameras, and collect other types of sensitive information without their targets’ knowledge.