Leah West
@leahwest-nsl.bsky.social
SJD. Associate Prof at Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Sr Fellow @CIGI. Ex Armoured Officer & DOJ Nat Sec lawyer. Write about the law of spies, robots and terrorism. Sanctioned by Russia.
We get nerdy on International Law and whether it still matters given… waves generally at the world. Surprising no one, @cforcese.bsky.social and I tell Jess why it does.
Jess Davis@jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 6mo ago🚨🎙️Guess what!? A new Secure Line is out. We talk international law with Craig Forcese and learn all kinds of things about norms, laws, and standards, and why they actually matter, despite what the US says or does. Have a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgh...
In full agreement with this by @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social on Bill C-22. It is good that the government listened to criticisms & re-wrote the bill so any enacted legislation has a chance to survive the courts. The grounds for a reasonable debate have been laid. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: Canada’s playing catch-up on digital lawful access
The Carney government has shown a willingness to try and get it right
theglobeandmail.com
@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social So, how I found Secure Line, and why I started listening, and why I continue. I look for books, papers, shows, etc. that are deep dives into subjects I know nothing about. This Week In Virology was an early find, and still a favourite. 1/?
Mike and I dive deep on the new Combatting hate act. Give it a listen.
Jess Davis@jessmarindavis.bsky.social · 12mo ago🚨🎙️New Secure Line is out now! We're talking Canada's "Combating Hate Act" -- what it does, why it's being introduced, and places where it might overreach. With the wonderful Mike Nesbitt. Have a listen! Available wherever you get your podcasts www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Zc...
New Secure Line Podcast out! You may heard a lot about the surveillance provisions in Parts 14 and 15 of Bill C-2. @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social breaks it down to @jessmarindavis.bsky.social and myself. What are the problems? Is it fixable? Discuss! youtu.be/S6YOovnRuqU?...
Backdoors, Borders, and Bill C-2
YouTube video by Secure Line
youtu.be
🚨Really pleased to share Season 2 of Secure Line! We kick off the season with a roundup of everything we missed over the summer months....and there was a lot. Freezerbags full of intelligence, you might say. Available wherever you get your podcasts. youtu.be/3wrl1-Yt6wc?...
Freezerbags full of intelligence
YouTube video by Secure Line
youtu.be
1. Arc of the moral universe, etc. Teachers, journalists, healthcare workers, and academics have been fired or suspended for expressing pro-Palestinian views. Some workers and students have been added to public or private blacklists (Canary Mission) for pro-Palestinian activism
Steven Chase@stevenchase.bsky.social · last yr.Canada intends to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday.
There is much about this story that is staggering. But the inclusion of military members while deeply troubling is not surprising. A story: I was part of the RWE CAF research network funded by the Department of National Defence to study IMVE in the military for three years 2020-2023.
Jess Davis@jessmarindavis.bsky.social · last yr.Huge news out of Canada: Military members arrested on terrorism charges: “The three accused were planning to create anti-government militia...they took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises” www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Huge news out of Canada: Military members arrested on terrorism charges: “The three accused were planning to create anti-government militia...they took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises” www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Canadian Armed Forces members among four charged in Quebec extremist plot, RCMP say
Four people are accused of planning to create an anti-government militia to seize land in Quebec City
theglobeandmail.com
This Charter statement is certainly not quelling any concerns over the lawful access portion of Bill C2. If my student submitted this charter assessment of the lawful access provisions they would get a C (at best). www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/...
Charter Statement Bill C-2: An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures
The Charter Statement for Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures, is no...
justice.gc.ca
NEW today from myself @citizenlab.ca, on the unspoken implications of Canada's Bill C-2 for data-sharing with the United States and other foreign countries: citizenlab.ca/2025/06/a-pr...
Unspoken Implications: A Preliminary Analysis of Bill C-2 and Canada’s Potential Data-Sharing Obligations Towards the United States and Other Countries - The Citizen Lab
On June 3, 2025, the federal government tabled Bill C-2, An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related sec...
citizenlab.ca
I was encouraged to see the #G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression which also calls out mitigating harms around mercenary spyware 👇🇨🇦 www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/stat...
I have to agree. I have no reason to believe this was the intent of the provisions but as drafted it’s the likely outcome. IMO the GoC should take a mulligan and introduce an amendment in committee; would be a means of showing some good faith that was lost by tabling without consultation.
David TS Fraser@privacylawyer.ca · last yr.I could re-write this so that it accomplishes their stated objectives AND survives a Charter challenge. But in its current form, it will be struck down because of the scope that clearly tells me about objectives that are unstated.
Proud to be apart of this team. Was a dream to work with everyone on this project.
Really happy to see SITE taking steps to identify and inform the public about FI efforts at the riding level. Routine and regular warnings and education is necessary to ensure the Canadian electorate is aware and resilient against FI.
Stephanie Carvin@stephaniecarvin.bsky.social · last yr.❗SITE Task Force notes two campaigns targeting Conservative candidate Joe Tay: 1) inauthentically amplified content surrounding the HK bounty on Tay & his political competence. (At least one PRC-linked Facebook account) 2) Deliberate censorship of Tay’s name on PRC-based social media platforms.
New episode of Secure Line is out! Signal and the (FI) Noise: Catching up with the news - where @jessmarindavis.bsky.social and @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social and I discuss some of the national security issues that have arisen in and out of the context of the election. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFuU...
Signal and the (FI) Noise: Catching up with the news
YouTube video by Secure Line
youtube.com
An absolute honour. One of those rare trips that totally fills your cup.
Asaf Lubin@asaflubin.bsky.social · last yr.Spent the last 48-hrs with two of my absolute best academic friends, Russell Buchan and @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social, chatting about my forthcoming book on the role of int’l law in the regulation of espionage. Saying I had fun would be the understatement of the century! @iumaurerlaw.bsky.social
Having a real time listening to the “we need to take our medicine” from the antivax crowd.
Yes, I think this is broadly right. It's also worth considering the purpose behind these public communications and whether they are achieving that. @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social and @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social and I just recorded an episode of Secure Line out later this week on this issue.
Rachel Gilmore@rachelgilmore.bsky.social · last yr.The more I watch security-related pressers, the more I feel the impulses of journalists can push us towards irresponsible coverage. I'm watching journalists try really hard to tease out the narrative China was trying to weave in an influence campaign as security officials tell them it's unhelpful.
New episode of Secure Line podcast out. @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social & I talk to @plagasse.bsky.social about Canadian defence. We map out some of the important choices about the future of our alliances and the shape of our armed forces that the next PM will face. youtu.be/oREKuN6BbO8?...
Playing Defence
YouTube video by Secure Line
youtu.be
Brush up before Easter dinner. theconversation.com/how-to-have-...
How to have conversations with people who fall for misinformation this election campaign
Knowing how to talk about misinformation can help preserve relationships with friends and loved ones that can be frayed during high-stakes election campaigns.
theconversation.com
Back from a conference in Nice. First time I’ve ever travelled abroad and had people genuinely interested in understanding Canadian politics and security issues. I didn’t like it.
Dealing with an issue that, for reasons that defy actual reasons, is much in the news. open.substack.com/pub/craigfor...
CastBack Podcast – Defining the Canada-U.S. Border by Treaty
Or why some of the lines are squiggly and...some are straight
open.substack.com
IMPORTANT: After days of violence in Syria, a big step has been taken for the future of Syria, as Ahmad al-Shar’a and Mazloum Abdi sign an agreement to integrate the SDF into new Syrian forces www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Syria reaches deal to integrate SDF within state institutions, presidency says
Syria reached a deal to integrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces(SDF) with state institutions, the Syrian presidency said on Monday.
reuters.com
Today is the 79th anniversary of the signing of the BRUSA (later known as UKUSA) agreement. Will it make it to 80?
🚨 NEW EPISODE: Crypto Cold Front with Ari Redbord! 🚨 North Korea’s biggest crypto hack ever just happened, and Canada is shockingly among the top 10 countries with the highest exposure to sanctioned entities. How? Why? youtu.be/v11WVtRnki4?...
Crypto Cold Front
YouTube video by Secure Line
youtu.be
🚨 New Secure Line Episode 🚨 Is terrorism in Canada getting worse, or are we just getting better at catching it? Our latest episode dives into the numbers. @leahwest-nsl.bsky.social and I sit down with @stewglobal.bsky.social to talk all about terrorism in Canada! open.spotify.com/episode/4Fxy...
Terrorism Threat Medium?
Secure Line · Episode
open.spotify.com
