By Samantha Bradshaw, Senior Fellow at the Canadian International Council and a Researcher on the Computational Propaganda Project at Oxford University

Executive Summary

The manipulation of public opinion over social media platforms is a critical concern of the 21st century. Around the world, state and non-state actors are leveraging social media to spread disinformation to voters at key moments during public life. While the cyber element of elections security has traditionally focused on securing ballot boxes or voter registration rolls, governments are increasingly concerned about the impact of harmful information on democratic outcomes. As a result, this policy brief explores the challenges pertaining to social media manipulation as they relate to Canada’s upcoming federal election. 

In this new policy brief, CIC Senior Fellow Samantha Bradshaw explores the challenges pertaining to social media manipulation as they relate to Canada’s upcoming federal election, and provides some practical and concrete steps for industry, government and Canadian citizens to enhance both the integrity and security of the information ecosystem in Canada.