Marcus Kolga is a Canadian journalist, human rights advocate, and internationally recognized expert on foreign disinformation, influence operations, and transnational repression. For over two decades, he has been at the forefront of exposing and countering authoritarian information warfare, working with governments, civil society, and media to defend democratic institutions and human rights. He regularly comments and appears in national and international media, and is frequently consulted by policymakers, parliamentary committees, and security agencies.
Marcus is one of only three Canadians sanctioned by both the Russian and Chinese regimes—a testament to the impact of his leadership and unwavering advocacy for human rights and democratic values.
A senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, the CDA Institute, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, Marcus combines research with practical advocacy. He has testified in parliaments across North America and Europe, presenting evidence of authoritarian disinformation campaigns and urging democratic governments to adopt stronger countermeasures.
His leadership was instrumental in Canada’s adoption of the Magnitsky human rights sanctions, which target corrupt officials and human rights abusers and authoritarian regimes around the world.
Marcus is the founder of DisinfoWatch.org, a leading Canadian platform that monitors, analyzes, and debunks foreign disinformation targeting Canada and its allies. His expertise spans Russian, Chinese, and Iranian information operations, and he has become a prominent voice in policy debates on countering malign influence.
Marcus’s career began in media production and communications, but the Kremlin’s cyberattacks against Estonia in 2007, its invasion of Georgia in 2008, and the illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014 compelled him to focus on exposing and countering Kremlin propaganda. Over time, he expanded his work to address Chinese Communist Party influence operations, including Beijing’s repression of Uyghur, Tibetan, Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Falun Gong communities in Canada.
As a victim of foreign transnational repression (TNR) himself, Marcus has become a leading voice warning about its growing threat and advocating for those targeted by it. He has shared his expertise and personal experience in testimony before Canada’s Parliament and at the Federal Inquiry into Foreign Interference, pressing for stronger protections and accountability measures to defend Canadians from authoritarian harassment and intimidation.
Marcus is also a respected community leader and advocate for Canada’s Central and Eastern European communities. In 2008, he co-founded the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada with Markus Hess, an organization dedicated to advancing the interests of these communities both nationally and internationally. The following year, he worked with the Hon. Bob Rae to establish August 23 as Black Ribbon Day—Canada’s National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Nazi and Soviet Russian terror in Europe.
In 2015, Marcus was elected President of the Estonian Central Council in Canada, working closely with the late and esteemed Estonian Honorary Consul in Toronto, Laas Leivat. He championed inclusive leadership, encouraging Kairi Taul-Hemingway to run as his successor, making her the first woman to lead the Council. In 2024, after facing irreconcilable conflicts with his core democratic principles and moral values, Marcus made the difficult decision to resign from the Estonian Central Council in Canada.
Marcus’s contributions have earned him numerous international honours, including Estonia’s Order of the White Star, Latvia’s Medal of Honour, and the Magnitsky Human Rights Award. In 2022, he was among the first Canadians sanctioned by the Kremlin, a designation he has described as “a badge of honour” for his efforts to hold Vladimir Putin’s regime accountable. In 2023, Toronto Life named him one of the 50 most influential Torontonians.
Beyond policy and advocacy, Kolga remains deeply connected to his Estonian heritage and Canada’s Baltic communities. He has worked to strengthen ties between Canada and the Baltic states through cultural initiatives, public events, and community advocacy.
Marcus proudly serves on the Rogers OMNI Advisory Council, where he helps guide the network’s mission to provide high-quality third-language programming to audiences across Canada. OMNI Television broadcasts in more than 20 languages, reaching dozens of ethnic and cultural communities across the country. In this role, Marcus works with fellow council members to ensure that OMNI’s content reflects Canada’s diversity, supports multilingual journalism, and gives voice to communities often underrepresented in mainstream media. His participation builds on his long-standing commitment to defending minority rights, amplifying diverse perspectives, and fostering a more inclusive national conversation.
Kolga’s public engagement extends to conferences and forums worldwide, including NATO StratCom, the Riga Conference, and GLOBSEC, where he addresses hybrid threats and the need for democratic resilience. He is a consistent advocate for expanding NATO’s definition of defense to include information and cognitive warfare, arguing that investments in independent media, civil society, and counter-disinformation should count toward alliance defense spending commitments.
Whether on Parliament Hill, in an international forum, or a community hall, Marcus’s mission is constant: to expose and dismantle the tools of authoritarian influence, to defend the rights of those targeted by repression, and to strengthen the resilience of democratic societies.
Testimonials about Marcus’ work