The rise of generative artificial intelligence, a decline of traditional professional media and the\u00a0persistent threat of foreign meddling have combined to make disinformation<\/a> the greatest threat to Canadian democracy, the federal inquiry into foreign interference<\/a> suggests.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That was one of the ominous warnings from Justice Marie-Jos\u00e9e Hogue\u2019s year-long probe into how hostile governments are targeting Canada\u2019s democratic processes, including the last two federal elections.<\/p>\n Nowhere in Hogue\u2019s sprawling 860-page final report is it spelled out exactly how disinformation is a greater threat than more traditional forms of foreign interference, such as covertly funnelling money, attempting to influence politicians, messing around in nomination races or intimidating diaspora groups.<\/p>\n Disinformation was discussed during commission testimony, but \u201cthe extent to which it was given prominence\u201d in Hogue\u2019s final report was surprising, said Stephanie Carvin, a professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThe prominence of it in the report is striking, just because while there was some discussion about disinformation in public \u2026 it doesn\u2019t really necessarily reflect (Hogue\u2019s) mandate, and there didn\u2019t seem to be a lot of public testimony on it,\u201d Carvin said in an interview.<\/p>\n The few specific instances of disinformation discussed in the report led Hogue to find that it had\u00a0little, if any,\u00a0effect on the outcomes of the 2019 and 2021 general elections.<\/p>\n Taken together, however, Hogue\u2019s digressions on disinformation suggest the danger is not just tipping the scales in a particular riding or even a general election, but to Canadians\u2019 shared understanding of politics itself.<\/p>\n \u201cA healthy democracy is characterized by a vibrant and diverse range of voices and groups, engaged in a constant process of deliberation, discussion, negotiation and compromise \u2026 By fostering distrust, creating division and preventing compromise, disinformation threatens this fundamental feature of democracy,\u201d Hogue wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my view, it is no exaggeration to say that at this juncture, information manipulation (whether foreign or not) poses the single biggest risk to our democracy. It is an existential threat.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Hogue does reference three specific alleged instances of disinformation in recent elections: an apparently coordinated campaign targeting former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu, allegations of a misinformation campaign targeting Erin O\u2019Toole\u2019s Conservative campaign in 2021, and a disinformation campaign targeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he alleged Indian officials played a role in the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.<\/p>\n Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n No state has been definitively connected to those three campaigns, although testimony suggested links to the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) in the first two instances and the Indian government in the last.<\/p>\n For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n But in terms of the overall impact of disinformation on the last two general elections, testimony before Hogue\u2019s commission suggested it\u2019s had little to no effect on the outcome.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDisinformation in the 2019 and 2021 elections\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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