Overseas accounts are increasingly exploiting Canadian political discourse for profit, according to a CBC visual investigation. Researchers have identified over a dozen foreign-based individuals—including a noodle merchant in Indonesia—posing as Albertans in separatist Facebook groups to monetize divisive content. These accounts often steal photos and text from real Canadians to bypass authenticity checks and generate revenue through Meta’s creator programs.
How overseas accounts profit from Canadian political outrage
Content creators thousands of miles away are finding that Canadian political friction serves as a lucrative niche. According to the CBC investigation, these accounts utilize Meta’s monetization tools, which reward creators for high engagement on Reels, photos, and text posts. In one instance, a user named Nieta Aqila—who presented herself as a local supporter of Alberta independence—was found to be a noodle merchant living in Palembang, Indonesia. Aqila’s account, which posted about being harassed while canvassing for signatures, actually copied content verbatim from an Edmonton resident named Brock Ireland.
Facebook monetization dashboards shared by these accounts show that even modest engagement can be profitable. One account identified by the CBC displayed a dashboard showing earnings of approximately $14 US for a single month of activity within these groups.
Why social media incentives fuel deceptive behavior
The economic model behind these groups prioritizes engagement over accuracy, creating an environment where deception thrives. Aengus Bridgman, director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory at McGill University, notes that this system benefits two primary parties: the “grifters” monetizing the content and the platform itself, which captures ad revenue from the resulting attention. Because Meta’s rules incentivize divisive topics that trigger strong emotional reactions, overseas actors are effectively gamifying the platform’s algorithms. According to Matt Navarra, a U.K.-based social media consultant, this trend is less about state-backed foreign interference and more about a “banal” pursuit of profit at the expense of public discourse.
Are these networks organized?
The CBC investigation uncovered evidence of coordinated networks operating out of locations such as Pakistan and the U.S. Pages like “The Legacy Archives,” “Trend Top,” and “History Addicted” were linked through their shared administration of a Facebook group titled “Rise of Alberta.” These pages frequently used highly emotional language to discuss Western alienation. While some of these accounts claimed to be Canadian when confronted, their page transparency data indicated they were managed from abroad. Following the CBC’s inquiry, Meta removed several of these accounts and pages for violating policies on inauthentic behavior.
To verify the authenticity of a post in a politically charged Facebook group, check the “Page Transparency” section of the page or the profile’s bio. If a page claiming to represent a local movement is managed from a different continent, it is likely part of a monetization scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these accounts steal content from real people?
These operators monitor public Facebook groups for popular posts from real residents. They then copy the exact text and photos, reposting them as if the experience happened to them personally to gain credibility and engagement.
What is Meta doing to stop this?
Meta has stated that it removes content and accounts that violate its policies regarding inauthentic behavior. Following investigations by the CBC, several accounts linked to these networks were disabled.
Is this considered foreign interference?
Experts like Matt Navarra distinguish this behavior from traditional state-backed interference. It is often described as a “banal” economic activity where individuals exploit political outrage to earn money through social media ad revenue.
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