Example of foreign interference: Doxing, online abuse and harassment.
Foreign interference can affect Ethnic Communities in different ways. Recognising it helps communities be aware of the risks and protect themselves.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) defines foreign interference as an act by a foreign state, often acting through a proxy, which is intended to influence, disrupt or subvert New Zealand’s national interests by deceptive, corruptive or coercive means. However, normal diplomatic activity, lobbying and other genuine, overt efforts to gain influence are not considered interference.
Here is one example of foreign interference based on experiences shared by Ethnic Communities with the Ministry for Ethnic Communities.
A member of an Ethnic Community in New Zealand, who often publicly criticised a foreign state’s government on social media experienced foreign interference. Their personal information including their address, phone number, and email, was posted online – this is called doxing.
The people who doxed the community member were instructed to do this by the foreign state's government. The community member received threatening phone calls and messages. They also received a lot of abusive comments on their social media accounts. The community member felt very scared and unsafe. They later found out that they were doxed by people in New Zealand who were working for the foreign state’s government.
The doxing was an attempt to scare them, so they would stop publicly criticising the foreign state’s government on social media. Eventually, they stopped expressing their views on social media and speaking out.
This is just one example of how foreign interference can impact Ethnic Communities. Foreign interference is not always obvious. It can be subtle and difficult to recognise. If something doesn’t feel right or makes you uncomfortable pay attention to it.
Learn more on how to recognise foreign interference, safeguard yourself and your community, and how to respond by checking out our other resources. Together, we can protect what makes New Zealand strong.
