What’s Next For Hootsuite
Hootsuite, a Vancouver-based social media company, refuses to cancel their contract with ICE. In January the company was discovered to have been working with ICE since at least September 2025. On January 30th, over 500 people showed up outside of Hootsuite’s HQ to demand that CEO Irina Novoselsky cancel the contract. Since then, Irina has doubled down on her decision, saying “we’ve done nothing wrong” and that “the contract will stand”, despite having a contingent of employees who are based in Mexico who have been directly impacted by ICE or have had family members who have been directly affected asking her to reconsider.
On February 21st, hundreds more attended a De-ICE Vancouver event outside outside of Hootsuite’s head office to demand that Irina cancel this contract. [See our Hootsuite FAQ for more info.]
There has been no response, only silence as Hootsuite continues to work with ICE.
Hootsuite was a startup founded in Vancouver, often lauded for its forward-thinking policies and business. Since its inception and new management, it’s become a company that no longer supports its own ideals. Hootsuite is currently making money off of an organization that not only threatens Canada’s sovereignty but is also proving itself to be the militant arm of a fascist regime. In working with ICE, Hootsuite is acknowledging and supporting ICE actions through their business partnership. Hootsuite is supporting an organization that has been kidnapping people, splitting apart families, and killing civilians.
Join Democracy Rising in saying NO to ICE in our city, province, and country. You can take action directly by:
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Contacting Hootsuite. Make your voice heard and tell the owl directly by:
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Book a demo with Hootsuite. You can ask about the capabilities of their Talkwalker application to identify things in videos – can it be used for targeting people? You can tell them about your objections at length if they don’t hang up on you. don’t have to attend the meeting, it clogs the sales pipeline and prevents them from acquiring new customers. Just be sure to use a non gmail account to ensure that your inquiry gets through.
Hi, my name is [your name] and I noticed that you’re currently using Hootsuite. It’s recently been discovered that Hootsuite is working with ICE. As a concerned citizen, I recommend moving to a different social media platform like HeyOrca, Later, or Buffer. Other companies like x and y have broken their contract with Hootsuite and I encourage you to do the same.
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Contact Irina Novoselsky and the Hootsuite Board of Directors
- Irina Novoselsky, CEO: irina.novoselsky@hootsuite.com.
- Julie Herendeen, Chair, Board of Directors: guessing but likely julie.herendeen@hootsuite.com LinkedIn
- Ryan Holmes, Director, Board of Directors: also guessing but likely ryan.holmes@hootsuite.com LinkedIn
- Jeff Lieberman,Director, Board of Directors: guessing but likely jeff.lieberman@hootsuite.com
- Christiane Pendarvis, Director, Board of Directors: guessing but likely christiane.pendarvis@hootsuite.com
- Dave Singh, Director, Board of Directors: guessing but likely dave.singh@hootsuite.com
Copy and paste the below text into the body of your email.
Hello,
My name is [insert name] and it’s come to my attention that Hootsuite is still working with ICE despite knowing that they are actively tearing apart families and supporting a regime bent on fascism.
You list as one of your six guiding principles: “Give back to our communities and be an ally.” I find it extremely disappointing that you’re working with ICE, which is destroying communities and actively harming neighbourhoods.
I encourage you to cut all ties with ICE immediately and to cancel the contract and issue a formal apology to those affected.
[your name]
Public pressure works.
- SFU here in Vancouver has DROPPED their contract with Hootsuite
- Witness Change, an American not-for-profit has DROPPED their contract with Hootsuite
- Untitled Ad Lab has DROPPED their contract with Hootsuite
The Pattison group walked back the sale of a warehouse facility to ICE due to public pressure, and it’s vital that we keep the pressure on. Leadership like Irina Novoselsky’s hopes that this will blow over, and the public will forget about the fact that a Vancouver company is knowingly working with ICE so they can keep their contract and continue lining their own pockets, despite the harm they are causing. Any action you take helps, even if it’s sending one email, or showing up to one protest. Together, we can make a difference, but we need your help.
