Description
A Canadian TikTok creator reflects on spy-related content, Russian bot attacks, and how propaganda continues to shape the global conversation in the digital age.
Introduction
I run a TikTok channel where I mostly post about spy-related topics—some historical stories with lessons worth learning, my take on spy-related current events, and occasional commentary on Canada’s security and intelligence landscape. Nothing classified. Nothing inflammatory. I’m not trying to be an influencer; I’m interested in education and reflection, especially through the lens of history.
But TikTok has taught me something unexpected.
The Russian Bot Problem
Every so often, I post a video about Russian espionage—usually something I’ve read in a reputable book or article. Without fail, those videos attract a wave of rage comments that look very much like they’re from Russian bots.
I’m accused of spreading Western propaganda. Of being funded by the CIA. Of hypocrisy—because, apparently, Russia’s intelligence operations are no different than anyone else’s.
Can I prove they’re bots? Strictly speaking, no. But the pattern is hard to ignore.
The Scale of the Propaganda Machine
What’s incredible is how persistent and targeted these accounts are. I’m not a big creator—I have just over 2,000 followers. I’m Canadian. I don’t use my channel to push political agendas or advocate for specific outcomes. So the fact that Russian bots are finding and flooding my videos is staggering. And, frankly, a little frightening.
This isn’t about me being special. What it really shows is how sophisticated and far-reaching Russian bot networks have become. Their goal isn’t just to defend Russia—it’s to harass, flood the conversation with doubt, and make those of us in the West question our values, our institutions, and even our history.
The Cold War Never Really Ended
I’ve said before: the Cold War never really ended—not for Russia. For many in the Kremlin, including Putin, the objective remains the same: to fracture Western alliances, especially in the United States and Europe. Propaganda remains a core weapon in that fight.
How to Push Back
So how do we push back? In a thousand small ways.
By staying engaged in our democracies. By voting in support of fundamental freedoms. And by recognizing these bot campaigns for what they are.
When I see the comment section on one of my videos spiral into accusations about the “evil West,” I don’t engage. I tune it out and move on.
I’m not naïve. I know no country has a spotless record. Every nation has its dark chapters. Every intelligence agency wrestles with ethics and, at times, fails to uphold its own standards. But the critical difference between democracies and authoritarian regimes like Russia is the willingness to acknowledge those failures and try to do better.
Canada, Germany, Japan—these are countries that have publicly reckoned with past wrongs and committed to progress. Russia doesn’t do that. It doubles down. It deflects. It undermines.
And while I don’t believe they’ll ultimately win—neither in Ukraine nor in shaping the global narrative—I do expect the bots to keep coming.
And I’ll keep posting anyway.
Further Reading: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu
Read this: The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer
It’s not just a gripping real-life adventure—it’s also a powerful reminder of why protecting historical artifacts matters. When we lose the knowledge they hold, we lose the context that helps us make sense of today’s challenges.
I’ve often wondered about moments like the burning of the Library of Alexandria and how the loss of that knowledge may have echoed through history, shaping events in ways we can’t fully trace. That’s why I loved this story—a race to save some of the world’s most precious manuscripts.