Slogans were screamed over loudspeakers outside of Hootsuite’s headquarters on Friday as a protest enveloped the Vancouver tech company’s office, calling for it to cancel a contract to provide social media services to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and, through them, ICE.
“I was absolutely ashamed when I heard about the contract that Hootsuite had with ICE,” said Michael Tan, a former Hootsuite employee.
Tan was one of Hootsuite’s first employees. He credits his career to that experience, but since he moved on in 2015, he says decisions like the $2.8 million contract they have entered into with DHS have left the company unrecognizable.
“When we started this company, where we grew this company to what it is, it’s that there were certain values, Canadian values, that were just so important to us,” Tan said.
“We became a big deal when it was used as a tool for journalists and citizens to organize in the Middle East, and it blew up overnight because of that. So Hootsuite became a success by enabling democracy.”
For its part, Hootsuite says its contract with the DHS does not include tracking or surveillance of individuals, but that’s little comfort to those critical of ICE.
“As we watch the violence unfold, as we watch their attack on humanity unfold, do we want to be a part of it in any way, shape or form?” said Jenny Kwan, MP for Vancouver East.
Kwan adds that she supports a Hootsuite boycott.
“Canadians are expressing that point of view, and we consider their approach.”
