Blog
April 24, 2023

You don’t have to talk to CSIS… but you should.


Featured image for “You don’t have to talk to CSIS… but you should.”

There was an article in the Globe and Mail about how the University of Waterloo advised researchers they aren’t obligated to talk to CSIS agents. This is true. Nobody is obliged or required to talk to CSIS Intelligence Officers (come on Globe and Mail at least get the terminology right). But you should! And why not? CSIS is mandated to investigate threats to our National and increasingly economic security and they rely on information provided by the community to do this important work. Those threats include but are not limited to foreign interference, espionage and sabotage. Our Universities, research institutions, and academics are prime targets for those threats and CSIS works hard to protect them. For just under 10 years I was an IO who went out and knocked on doors asking people for help. So, yes you don’t have to talk – but it would be great if you did because we all have a role to play to keep each other safe. Please see my full video on this topic below.

For more information on Foreign Interference please visit:

https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/publications/foreign-interference-and-you/foreign-interference-and-you-list.html

For more information on how to protect your research you can visit:

https://www.canada.ca/en/security-intelligence-service/corporate/publications/protect-your-research/protect-your-research-list.html