A warning was sent to all MPs about the cybersecurity risks of using WeChat after the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had heard some members used the platform and asked a national security agency to advise elected officials on how to use the app, iPolitics has learned.

Caroline Xavier, the assistant secretary to the cabinet, was among the recipients of an email disclosed by the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to iPolitics through Canada’s access to information laws on June 21, saying that there were rumours MPs had been encouraged by parties to use the Chinese social media app WeChat.

“There is clearly room for cse [sic] to offer advice to anyone planning to download this, we just have to figure out who is advising this,” the email says.

The name of the CSE employee who sent the email was redacted in the documents that the department disclosed using section 15(1) of Canada’s Access to Information Act. The section outlines that information can be withheld if its disclosure could be “reasonably expected to be injurious to the conduct of the defence of Canada or any state allied or associated with Canada.”

READ MORE: MPs, staff warned not to use Chinese app WeChat due to ‘cybersecurity risks’

A few days later on June 25, a responding email was sent to a group that included Eric Belzile, the director general of incident management and threat mitigation at the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, saying that PMO had requested CSE give advice to MPs about using WeChat.

The sender of that email’s name was also redacted.

“The PMO sought advice from CSE on the security of the platform, as we would other new platforms, to ensure MPs and staff were informed on potential risks,” PMO spokesperson Brook Simpson told iPolitics in an email this week.

CSE put together an initial list of advice about using social media, which an email on June 26 sent by Adam Hatfield says was to be passed along to the Privy Council Office.

A Government of Canada website currently lists Hatfield as the director of Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre for Public Safety Canada. Early last year, he was the director of partnerships for the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.

Though the advice that was initially suggested did not directly name WeChat, a finalized version does, grouping the Chinese app with other platforms including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Skype.

Here’s one point of the advice sheet:

“Think about which nation’s laws will apply to your information and your activity on the platform. Most social media platforms and apps will store and process your information outside of Canada. We recommend using providers and apps that store your data in jurisdictions that have privacy protection laws equal to Canada’s.”

Concerns have been raised internationally – including by some of Canada’s closest allies – about the trustworthiness of Chinese tech companies, given recently enacted Chinese security laws that give its government powers to demand businesses carry out loosely-defined intelligence activities for the government in the name of national security.

Another email sent by Hatfield on June 26 confirm the advice was forwarded to PCO, while in another email he says that CSE should keep concerns about WeChat on its “radar” for when it next briefs political parties.

About a week later, MPs and House of Commons staff were sent an email about the risks of using WeChat.

“WeChat poses potential cybersecurity risks to users. As such, the House of Commons strongly recommends that Members of Parliament and their staff refrain from using it for business–or otherwise sensitive–communications,” says the notice.

Here’s the full version:

On July 9, CSE spokesperson Ryan Foreman was emailed about advice that was going to be posted on the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s website. In an email in which the name of the sender has been redacted, Foreman was told, “The overall thrust of this guidance is fine (making sure the application is hosted and developed in countries similar privacy and security outlook as Canada is especially helpful).”

With files from Kirsten Smith

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