Amidst passionate chants and signs, a protest erupted outside Hootsuite’s headquarters in Vancouver, urging the tech company to end its social media services contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Among the demonstrators was Michael Tan, a former early employee of Hootsuite, who expressed disappointment over the company’s $2.8 million deal with DHS. Tan recalled a time when the company stood for Canadian values and enabled democracy through its platform.
The protest stemmed from concerns over ICE’s involvement in civilian deaths, prompting calls for Hootsuite to sever ties with the federal agency. Critics argue that any association with ICE, even for reputation management, is unethical.
While Hootsuite maintains that its contract does not involve individual tracking, critics remain unconvinced. Politicians like Jenny Kwan of Vancouver East have voiced support for a Hootsuite boycott in solidarity with public sentiment.
In a turn of events, the Pattison Group canceled a deal with DHS to sell a warehouse for ICE use following public pressure. Emily Lowan, from the Green Party of B.C., emphasized the importance of transparency in such dealings and highlighted the impact of public advocacy.
The cancellation of the warehouse sale has buoyed hopes among protesters that similar pressure could lead Hootsuite to reconsider its contract with DHS and ICE.
Keyphrase: Hootsuite protest ICE