Disinformation vs. Democracy: Why Canada Can't Afford to Be Complacent
"Our democracy is on fire, and disinformation is the match."
We are living through a period of rapid change. Social media has overtaken traditional news as a primary source of information for millions of people. AI-generated content is indistinguishable from real human communication. Meanwhile, critical thinking skills, media literacy, and institutional trust are in decline. It’s the perfect storm, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
This is especially alarming as we approach election season in Canada. Disinformation is no longer a fringe issue - it has become a strategic weapon. And it’s not just "out there" in the U.S. or the darkest corners of the internet. It’s here, in Canada. We ignore it at our peril.
The Rise of Disinformation in a Time of Declining Literacy
Elections have always been emotionally charged, but the rise of social media and AI has created a disinformation landscape unlike anything we’ve seen before. When people are overwhelmed, fearful, or angry, they seek narratives that feel reassuring - even if they’re not entirely true. This is called confirmation bias: the tendency to favour information that confirms your existing beliefs and to disregard information that challenges them.
And let’s be honest - we're all susceptible to it, especially in the middle of a chaotic news cycle.
The problem is that misinformation and disinformation (the deliberate kind) spread quickly, especially when they trigger emotions. Anger, fear, and outrage get shared. Facts? Not so much. This makes social media a super-spreader of disinformation.
Combine that with generative AI, and you now have fake videos, manipulated images, and fabricated "news" articles being shared at scale. This is no longer science fiction. It’s happening.
And Canadians have a dangerous habit of thinking, "It won’t happen here."
A Nation Vulnerable by Design
We pride ourselves on being polite, rational, and a little smug about not being the United States. But that complacency has made us vulnerable. Canada relies heavily on public trust, consensus-building, and a relatively small, underfunded media ecosystem. It’s easier to disrupt a country that assumes the best of people.
Here’s what makes us particularly fragile:
Public trust as a cornerstone: When bad actors spread lies, they exploit the very thing that makes our country function: trust in systems.
Limited media literacy: The average Canadian has not been trained to spot a deepfake, question an infographic, or verify sources.
A shrinking media landscape: As local newsrooms and public broadcasters struggle to stay afloat, we lose fact-checkers, investigators, and watchdogs - leaving a vacuum that conspiracy theorists are more than happy to fill.
Examples of Disinformation in Canada
We’re not immune. Here are just a few examples:
Federal Elections: Fake videos of politicians, misleading AI-generated images, and viral posts misrepresenting policies have already circulated ahead of elections.
COVID-19: From QR code conspiracies to vaccine denial, Canada saw a surge of health-related misinformation, some of it coordinated across multiple platforms.
Climate and Economy: "Carbon tax hoaxes" and pro-oil propaganda masked as grassroots outrage are widespread, often backed by powerful interest groups.
Indigenous Rights: Online misinformation campaigns have attempted to discredit land defenders and delegitimize protests against environmental destruction, often painting Indigenous leaders as violent or extremist.
These aren’t just fringe internet opinions - they influence votes, policies, and public discourse.
The Weaponization of Polarization
Canadian discourse is becoming more polarized - and that is by design.
Far-right groups and foreign actors use tactics perfected in the U.S. to sow division here. They exploit existing tensions (e.g., economic insecurity, racial inequality, urban/rural divides) and amplify them using social media algorithms that reward outrage and sensationalism.
This isn’t accidental. Polarization makes us easier to manipulate. When we’re busy fighting each other, we stop demanding accountability from those in power. It’s a tactic as old as the empire.
And now, with AI in the mix, it’s easier than ever to create divisive content that looks legitimate but is entirely manufactured. A single fake video can go viral and spark nationwide controversy in hours.
The retraction and apology that comes a few days later? Chances are your algorithm won’t feed it to you.
Erosion of Trust and Civic Participation
This is where the consequences get scary.
When disinformation is everywhere, people stop trusting anyone: the government, the media, science, even their neighbours. We become fragmented, disillusioned, and overwhelmed.
This leads to:
Low voter turnout: Especially in rural, racialized, or marginalized communities where trust has already been eroded.
Disengagement: People opt out of civic life altogether because they feel like they can’t trust what’s happening or make a difference.
Outrage fatigue: Constant exposure to alarming (and often false) information leads to emotional exhaustion and apathy.
And that’s precisely what disinformation campaigns are designed to do. It makes you feel like you’re powerless.
What Can Canada Do?
This is not a lost cause. But it does require a coordinated response.
Policy Solutions
Digital literacy in schools: Teach students how to identify credible sources, recognize manipulation, and engage critically with online content.
Regulate political ads: Require transparency around who is funding political content and whether it was AI-generated.
Hold tech companies accountable: Force platforms to flag misinformation, de-amplify harmful content, and cooperate with fact-checkers.
We’ve already seen platforms push back hard when governments try to regulate them. That’s because they profit off chaos. However, we need leaders who are willing to stand their ground.
Community-Based Action
Support local journalism: Subscribe to your local paper, donate to independent media, and amplify trusted voices.
Fact-check collectives: Encourage communities to work together to debunk false claims and share reliable information.
Empower local educators and influencers: Give them the tools to speak up and correct false narratives within their circles.
Individual Action
Pause before sharing: Does this spark outrage? Is it too perfect? Check the source.
Diversify your media diet: Don’t get all your news from one place - especially not from memes or TikTok.
Engage in respectful dialogue: It’s harder to manipulate people who are connected to real communities and conversations.
This isn’t about censorship or policing thoughts. It’s about equipping people to think.
This is a Civic Emergency
We can’t wait for things to get worse before we act. Disinformation isn’t just annoying - it’s existential. It erodes the very foundation of democracy: an informed, engaged public.
If we want democracy to survive, we need to start acting like it’s worth protecting. That means:
Demanding truth and transparency from our leaders
Supporting media and educators doing the hard work
And staying connected to our communities, even when it’s uncomfortable
Because once trust is gone, getting it back is a whole lot harder.
The future of our democracy depends on how we handle disinformation today. Let’s not sleep through the fire.
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