iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/09/2025

We are glad to announce our final judge for Hack the Divide! Emily Traynor Mayrand is an expert in the downstream impacts of polarization. Her experience spans academia, the practitioner space, and government, providing great perspective on the theory of change and impact potential of projects.

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Emily Traynor Mayrand
Judge
Emily is an expert researcher and knowledge mobilizer on violent extremism and terrorism. Her work in academia, in civil society with the Violence Prevention Network, and in the public service with the Government of Canada gives her a nuanced perspective of the forces leading to polarization as well as the downstream impacts that polarization can have on individuals and communities.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 09/09/2025

We are excited to announce our second judge for Hack the Divide. Charles Finley is a civic leader with great experience launching and advising organizations for social impact. Charles will provide teams with feedback on impact potential and inclusivity.

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Judge
Charles Finley
Charles is a seasoned leader in strategic transformation and operations. His work as a founder, board member, and advisor across many organizations brings together system-level thinking with inclusive community building. As a trailblazer in civic technology and social innovation, he has a great depth of experience in starting, building, and achieving scalable impact.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 04/09/2025

Hack the Divide is less than a month away and we are thrilled to start announcing our esteemed panel of judges! Ahmed Khalifa is our “builder” who will provide rich feedback on the creativity and execution of projects.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 24/04/2025

What happens before and after you vote should be important to every Canadian. Play CanadaIsTalking.com to share your views on voting and election results in Canada, or tell us what you think in the comments. #election2025 #cdnpoli

ELECTION DAY IS COMING
AND CANADA IS TALKING
WHY SHOULD I VOTE?
CAN I TRUST THE RESULTS?
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
reply below

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 23/04/2025

Our latest release, CanadaIsTalking.com, challenges your knowledge about how our democracy works. Do you know all the correct answers? #election2025 #cdnpoli

LEARN MORE ABOUT
OUR DEMOCRACY WITH
TRIVIA AND POLLS
CanadaIsTalking.com

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 22/04/2025

Are you interested in the election? Click dpsorg.substack.com to read our Election Watch series. Or play CanadaIsTalking.com, where you can share your perspective on democracy in Canada. #election2025 #cdnpoli

DIGITAL PUBLIC SQUARE IS INVESTIGATING
WHAT CANADIANS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ELECTION

LEARN MORE

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 17/04/2025

"We’re talking about direct personal harm" Cheuk Kwan, Co-Chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, lays out the most critical impacts of transnational repression.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 14/04/2025

In our latest Election Watch newsletter, @digitalpublicsquare.org and @revontuletintel.bsky.social look at misinformation narratives surrounding Mark Carney's election as Liberal Party Leader and their implications for democracy in Canada. Read and subscribe! open.substack.com/pub/dpsorg/p...

A marionette stands at a podium. with the Canadian flag as a backdrop

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 14/04/2025

"Your passport doesn’t matter" Cheuk Kwan, Co-Chair of the Toronto Association for Democracy in China, shares his own experience of oppression.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 12/04/2025

"Our government has... stronger law enforcement to... detect (cyber attacks)" Lihsin Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, speaks about the countermeasures taken to counter foreign interference in Taiwan.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 11/04/2025

"They are afraid of being coerced economically if they publicly support our events" Lihsin Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, talks about the ways that transnational repression restricts freedoms.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 10/04/2025

"Cognitive warfare (is used to) influence our society and change our voter behaviour" Lihsin Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, describes Taiwan's efforts to counter electoral interference.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2025

"A dire situation that Uyghur's are experiencing every day in Canada and elsewhere" @mehmettohti.bsky.social, Executive Director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, explains what transnational repression means to him and his community.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2025

"1% of the population, 25% of incarceration" @mehmettohti.bsky.social, Executive Director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, shares some sobering stats.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 08/04/2025

"...And even I don't know if they have graves" @mehmettohti.bsky.social, Executive Director of Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project, speaks on the horrors inflicted on his family in China.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 07/04/2025

“We want justice (…) without persecuting the other”

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 07/04/2025

“If you are silent … we’ll (let you) come and see your grandparents”

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 03/04/2025

Announcing a new DPS newsletter! We’re releasing Election Watch reports examining online narratives that fuel extremism, violence, and polarization heading into Canada's federal election. First is a topic dominating discussions—Canada as the 51st state. dpsorg.substack.com/p/election-w...

Zoomed in image of the USA flag, with one star replaced by a maple leaf

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 03/04/2025

What does foreign interference look like? Recognize the tactics.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 02/04/2025

Protect yourself from online harrassment and transnational repression. Know the 4 steps.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 28/03/2025

Every year, millions of people are forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, and human rights violations. Unfortunately for many asylum seekers, the dangers they experience know no borders — reaching all the way to democratic nations like Canada.

What transnational repression feels like:
Vulnerability
The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/03/2025

Some forms of foreign interference are more subtle than others, but that doesn’t mean they’re less effective. With another general election coming soon, it is imperative that we protect ourselves from potential misinformation campaigns. (1/2)

What transnational repression looks like:
Online misinformation & election interference
The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 27/03/2025

You’re at school and your home country’s politics come up. You want to share your experience with your classmates… But you stay silent You don’t know who else might be listening.

What transnational repression feels like:
Silence
The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 26/03/2025

Activists consulted for our project noted that direct threats against them and their families were used to intimidate and control their communities.

What transnational repression feels like:
Intimidation

The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 26/03/2025

In our 2024 survey we heard 28% of immigrant respondents say their families back home faced harassment or covert threats from foreign governments. (1/3)

What transnational repression looks like:
Harassment of family members back home

The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/03/2025

Imagine this — you’re sitting at home after a protest and receive a phone call. “We’re watching you,” says the voice on the other line. The caller is with the police in your home country, meaning both you and your family are in danger. (1/3)

What transnational repression looks like:
Receiving anonymous threatening calls

The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 25/03/2025

You’ve escaped your home country, but the harassment hasn’t stopped — late night phone calls, threats against your family… (1/4)

What transnational repression feels like:
Abandonment
The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 24/03/2025

Recently, Hong Kong activists have shared stories of bystanders taking close-up headshot photos of protestors. In a recent survey, 45% of respondents (all Canadian activists) reported frequent harassment from the Chinese government — including threats, violence, and surveillance.

What transnational repression looks like:
Your photo being taken at protests

The experiences depicted are actual events based on research by Digital Public Square.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 24/03/2025

This week, Digital Public Square is concluding our FIRE campaign. A year of research, consultations, and development have led to our visual article, where you can read about the experiences of people facing transnational repression. Follow @digitalpublicsquare.org to see the rollout.

Foreign Interference Resilience & Education, An initiative by Digital Public Square.

To learn more, visit: fire.digitalpublicsquare.org

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 19/03/2025

In recent years, the Chinese government has used transnational repression tactics, including threats, violence, and more, to silence its critics. Have you been impacted? We’d like to hear from you! To share your story securely, visit the fire.digitalpublicsquare.org and click "The Record"

"Our volunteers are worried that if they are too outspoken, they would run into problems if they were to return to Hong Kong... the fear is so extensive there is a fear of just identifying as Hongkongers." Anonymous community organizer

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 17/03/2025

Chinese, Hong Kong, Tibetan, Uyghur, and Taiwanese diasporas in Canada have experienced harassment and intimidation from the Chinese government. To learn more, find resources, and share your story, go to fire.digitalpublicsquare.org/

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 18/12/2024

Over the past year, there have been countless stories of Canadian immigrants and their families being harassed by foreign entities. But just how big of an issue are these threats, really? Learn more, access support resources, or share your experiences with us at fire.digitalpublicsquare.org.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 14/11/2024

We want to hear from people who have been affected. Go to fire.digitalpublicsquare.org to share your story and access support resources.

Are you worried about what governments outside of Canada might do to you or your family? We want to hear from you.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 14/11/2024

In our newest survey, we examined the impacts of foreign interference and transnational repression. To read the full report, go to digitalpublicsquare.org/insights/survey-from-the-foreign-interference-resilience-education-project

14% of Chinese Canadians (*Canadians of Chinese, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, Tibetan or Uyghur heritage) have received threats from a foreign government or know someone who has.

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 14/11/2024

Foreign interference has been in the news a lot the past year. What does it mean to you? We are connecting with people living in Canada who are afraid to travel, talk politics, or use social media. Follow @dpsorg.bsky.social to see what we learned and how we are trying to help.

Foreign interference is a real problem impacting people in Canada. A victim might be just by your side.
Foreign Interference Resilience & Education
An initiative by Digital Public Square

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Digital Public Square @digitalpublicsquare.org · 24/10/2024

Media literacy intersects with almost everything we do at Digital Public Square. Earlier this year, we created Manipulation Nation, a media literacy education game that helped 9,000 Canadians navigate feeds that are divisive and flooded with fake content. #MediaLiteracyWeek

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