Disinformation everywhere: Unraveling false information in a digital world

A growing threat to democracy

Disinformation — the deliberate spread of false information to mislead and harm others — is one of the great threats facing Canadian society, democracy, and business. As digital platforms dominate communication, false narratives spread faster and more convincingly than ever, eroding trust in institutions and shaping public opinion in dangerous ways.

In 2023, Statistics Canada reported that 59 percent of Canadians expressed deep concern about online misinformation, with 43 percent admitting they struggle to distinguish between fact and fiction. Although this statistic refers to misinformation, this rising concern reflects the public awareness of the disinformation challenges and the urgency to effectively address it.

And the problem isn’t just individual misjudgment — it’s a systemic challenge that impacts political stability, corporate reputations, and public safety.

Disinformation is a nuisance. But it’s also a direct attack on democratic processes. The Survey of Online Harms in Canada 2024 found that 38 percent of Canadians fell for false news at least a few times per month, highlighting the sophistication of misleading content. Foreign interference, AI-generated fake news, and deepfake technology are being weaponized to manipulate public perception, polarize communities, and influence elections.

Impact on business and the economy

The corporate sector is not immune to disinformation, including memes and social media, forgeries, deepfakes, and disinformation-as-a-service platforms. To counter challenges associated with disinformation, Canadian businesses reported adopting solutions like marketing campaigns (to combat the false or misleading information through education), legal action, improving customer outreach, training employees, and implementing new cyber security measures.

Disinformation campaigns can destroy reputations, erode customer trust, and shake markets.

The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report identifies disinformation as the most significant short-term global risk. From financial markets to geopolitical conflicts, the ability to distort reality is a tool used by bad actors to destabilize entire industries.

Risks to watch

AI-generated disinformation: AI tools are creating hyper-realistic fake content and spreading it quickly, making it increasingly difficult to separate truth from fiction.

Deepfake technology: Deepfake attacks create highly realistic, but fake, audio and video content, which poses significant risks to public trust and security.

Foreign interference in democratic processes: Foreign hackers may engage in disinformation campaigns that aim to undermine Canadian democracy by exploiting contentious topics.

Misinformation targeting international students: International students in Canada could be subjected to immigration-related misinformation, leading to confusion and potential exploitation. 

Disinformation in social media: Social media platforms are hotspots for the spread of disinformation, affecting public perception and discourse. 

Manipulation of public opinion through fake news: The deliberate spread of false information, known as fake news, can be to manipulate public opinion on various issues. 

International conflicts: In global conflicts, scammers can use sophisticated disinformation campaigns that can target audiences and sway public opinion. 

Online harms and hateful content: There’s been a rise in hateful content and online harms, often fueled by disinformation, and impacting individual well-being and dividing societies. 

Exploitation of conspiracy theories: Conspiracy theories can be synthetically legitimized through disinformation, which could lead to public mistrust in institutions and experts. 

Challenges in detecting and combating misinformation: Despite efforts, detecting and combating misinformation remains a challenge and demonstrates the need for tools and strategies to help Canadians identify false information online.