Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media
by Caroline Orr with Emma McIntosh insights we can’t afford toignore: understanding oftheevolving nature ofthose campaigns.Andituncovers twoimportant defending andstrengthening Canadiandemocracy. But even more itdeepensour important, of chronology ofthelargerhistory of events, asanimportant part This serves report threats andhatefrom someofthedarkest cornersoftheInternet. disinformation campaigns,andhow thosecampaignsrespond by unleashingvenomous EIRP grappledwiththechallengesofreporting ontheoften-nebulousfigures behind Project). She hasfirst-hand, frontline knowledge ofhow thoseevents unfolded,how the Integrity Reporting Project (sinceexpandedandrenamed theDemocracy andIntegrity Caroline Orr focusesononeinitiative inparticular, Canada’s National Observer’s Election together indefenceofdemocracy, theintegrityof2019federalelection. andinparticular of how Canadianjournalists andgovernmentand manipulation,tellsthestory worked This preparedreport, by oneoftheleading researchers onorganized onlinedisinformation are totheirmanipulation. to misinform,polarize anddivide.Andwe hadyet tolearnhow vulnerableourdemocracies illicitly. We didn’t know yet how theywere collaboratingtogamethosesamesocial platforms collaborated toweaponize socialnetworking data—somegathered legitimately, muchofit But thatwasbefore wehow knew shadowy corporate,political and stateactorsalikehad and offensive: Whatcouldanyone possiblyhopeto achieve withthem? presidential campaign,Iwasbothbemusedandincredulous. They were sooutlandish,crude Like manypeople,whenIfirstsawtheearliestmemesandmisinformationof2016U.S. Vancouver, April 2020 Disinformation, Democracy andtheMedia Digital Fractures. Canada’s National ©2020|1 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media Editor-in-Chief, Canada’s National Observer Solomon WoodLinda Sincerely, We offerthis asonecontributiontothatconversation. report ofaglobalconversation amongdemocracy’sas part defenders. we’ve learnedandthestoriesofsuccess—setbacks —we encounteralongtheway, nations around theworld.Andonlywaywe’ll beabletoprevail isifwe share thelessons Nor isitjustCanadiandemocracythat’s on the line.Thisbattleisbeingfoughttodayin battle todefendandstrengthen thefoundationsofCanadiancivilsociety. of safeguarding elections;thisisnotjustafightfortheintegrityofballotbox. Thisisa We needtorethink ourapproach todefendingdemocracy. It can’t justbeanarrow effort What we learned ontheroad tothe2019federalelectionandincampaignitselfisthis: governments andmedicalscientificauthorities). telecommunications equipment)andfar-reaching (underminingpublicconfidenceinelected potentially fatalbehaviourby individualswhofallforhoaxtreatments toarsonattackson throughout theCOVID-19 pandemic.Here theconsequences are immediate(from — thanthedisinformationandconspiracy-mongeringthat’s floodedtheinternet broadly — notjustduringelections,andasamatterofforeign interference Nothing ofaddressing underlinestheimportance thiskindofmanipulationmore outcomes. Andthere’s signthey’re every doing exactly that. manipulating theconversations andopinionsbetween electionsthatdeterminetheireventual we’re barely anymore secure thanwe’d beby doingnothing.Bad actorscansimplyturnto political perceptions. If justonprotecting we electionsfrom focusourefforts interference, to manipulateelections.Theyare targetingongoingcivicconversations, public opinionand clear:Online disinformationcampaignsdon’treport makesasecondinsightvery justaim Equally aboutelectioncampaigns.This grave wouldbetoassumewe onlyneedtoworry years wouldbeagrave mistake. with it.Disregarding manipulationfrom powerful interests withinCanadainthecoming you’ll read inthis report, domesticpoliticalforces have takentheRussian playbookandrun — orsimilarstate-sponsored from China,Iran, campaignsrun Saudi ArabiaorIndia. But as disinformation, misinformationandmalinformationastheproduct ofRussian botfactories First, thisisnolongeralargelyexternalthreat. It’s becomeeasytothinkofonline Canada’s National ©2020|2 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media EventsDisinformation-Related Timeline Conclusions Countering disinformation:Recommendations forjournalistsandnewsrooms Harassment andthreats About Canada’s National Observer’s Democracy andIntegrity Reporting Project Disinformation inthe2019election Background andcontext National Observer’s Democracy andIntegrity Reporting Project Introduction Contents Canada’s National ©2020|3 Observer 32 30 24 22 17 12 7 5 4
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media “ I Introduction As onegovernment source toldNational Observer, polarizedivisive Canadians. issuestofurther disinformation isstillanongoingthreat, andsaidforeign actorswere andstillare exploiting with National onconditionofanonymitywarnedthatforeign Observer anddomestic Governmentand, insomecases,politicalcandidatesandparties. sources whotalked from Russia, ChinaandIndia mayhave beeninvolved inattemptstoswayvoters — propaganda inthelead-uptoelection,andthere’s evidencethatforeign actors Yet Canadians stillfacedaminefieldofdisinformation, hatespeechandinflammatory fair electionin2019were largelysuccessful. voters inCanada, buttodatetheevidencesuggeststhatCanada’s toensure efforts afree and avenuesnew through whichdisinformationandonlinemanipulationmayhave influenced neared thescopeormagnitudeofwhathappenedinU.K.U.S. We’re stilldiscovering months afterthe Toronto-based workshop, itdidn’t happenhere —atleastnotanythingthat Overwhelmingly, agreed journalists andexperts thatyes, itcould.But aswe wouldlearnfive question intheroom was:Will ithappenhere? surrounding electioninterference intheU.S.andU.K.stillunfolding,looming social fabricbindingCanada together. democracy [and]attackthe toundermine -- peoplewhoare trying there todrive are wedges inCanadian society peopleactively trying With the2019federalelectioncampaignfastapproaching andthescandals to confront aproblem plaguingdemocraciesaround theworld:disinformation. n May 2019,several dozen journalistsgathered inahoteldowntown Toronto Canada’s National ©2020|4 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media T be replicated by journalistsinothercountries. Reporting Project National Observer’s Democracy andIntegrity — “ The way we talkaboutfalsecontentmatters,andoneofthemostcommonterms use Defining theproblem big impact. Perhaps mostimportantly, National showed Observer thateven smallnewsroomscanhave a investigationsfeedback —aswell andcoverage. assuggestionsandtips thatledtoimportant groups and activists.Readers engagedwiththecontentandoffered positive overwhelmingly and entities,includingpoliticians,socialmediacompanies,politicalcampaigns,interest speech andviralhoaxes. Our reporting prompted responses from awiderangeofpeople EIRP, covering memes, onlinehate issuessuchassocial mediamanipulation,partisan Between May andNovember 2019,National through the published65articles Observer to reader input,disinformationandtheriseofhate. project broadly focusedontwoareas: disinformationaround climatechangeand,inresponse to theproject, withadditionalcontributions from otherstaffandfreelance The reporters. Action’s journalismproject. (I-SEA)publicservice Two full-timereporters were assigned reader-funded initiative incollaborationwiththeInstitute forSustainability, Education and (renamed theDemocracy andIntegrity Reporting Project aftertheelection).EIRPwasa In thespringof2019, National launchedourElection Observer Integrity Reporting Project, devoted resources tocombatingdisinformationaheadoftheelection. experiences ofdozens ofotherjournalistsamongthegroup ofCanadianmediaoutletsthat It looksspecificallyatour and inthis own efforts area anddrawsontheobservations discrediting factuallycorrect criticism. as “ party,justification forcensorshiplaws targetingopponentsofthe ruling orwieldtheterm hispreferredhis leadershipordonotsupport narrative. Other regimes use“fake news” as been weaponized by President Donald Trump todiscredit storiesthatare news criticalof over whatitrefers to,andmanyassociateitwithmultiplemeanings. Worse, thetermhas undermining propaganda fake news helped tomitigatetheimpactofmis-anddisinformation,how thiscan up tothe2019federalelection,focusingonhow themedia’s involvement his paperexaminestheinformationenvironment inCanadathelead- ” —maybecounterproductive. Public pollingshows Canadiansare divided ”: implying a commitment to truth andobjectivitywhile ”: implyingacommitment to truth Canada’s National ©2020|5 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media ability todoso. confident intheir own are significantlymore fake news,butthey tell real newsfrom average personcan confidence thatthe Canadians lack against journaliststomanipulate,discredit andundermineconfidenceinthemedia. often continuallyshiftingversions ofevents. At othertimes,disinformationmaybeused through conflictingand stay ontopofincominginformationwhilesimultaneouslysorting to Disinformation mayalsobeusedtooverwhelm journalistsandmediaoutlets,astheytry making ofindividuals,institutionsandsocietiesby shapingtheinformationenvironment. In toinfluencethedecision- ofabroader effort thelongterm,disinformationisoftenpart andprovokeobscure thetruth, ordistort responses from thetarget(s),amongotherthings. term, disinformationcanbeusedtocauseconfusion,distractfromorevents, othernews We recognized andlong-termgoals.In thatdisinformationcanhave bothshort- theshort • • • typesoffalseormisleadinginformationjournalistscontendwithare:The three primary Our project adopted definitionsconsistentwiththoseproposed by First Draft News. USA Canada Worldwide Con dence inspotting‘Fake News’ person’s reputation) group, (e.g.releasing private informationtoharma organization,orcountry Malinformation: Accurate information usedtoinflictharmonaperson,social causing harm. Misinformation: Information thatis false,butnotproduced withtheintentionof person, socialgroup, organization,orcountry. Disinformation: Information thatis falseanddeliberatelyproduced toharma from ‘fake news’. cantellrealcountry news average personinmy I amcon dentthatthe 29% 39% 41% facts) (entirely madeupstoriesor real newsfrom ‘fake news’ I amcon dentthatcantell 65% 64% 63% Public Perspectives ©Ipsos 2018 average personinmycountry. spotting ‘fake news I thinkthatI’m betterat 59% 54% 58% Canada’s National ©2020|6 Observer ’ thanthe
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media Prime Minister Justin Trudeah andKarinaGould Background andcontext information andthreat analysis. transparency andhostedaG7-wide initiative foronline politicaladvertising toshare rules from aninteragencytaskforce. TheCanadiangovernment alsointroduced more robust threatened theintegrityofCanada’s electoralprocess. Thepanelwasinformed by intelligence interference. defend thefederalelectionagainstcyberattacks,disinformationand otherformsofforeign interference incountrieslikeFrance, Canada’s federalgovernment preparing started earlyto Rocked by theexperiencesof theU.S.andU.K.,aswell asotherattemptsatelection Pre-election response inCanada voters with misleadinganddeceptive advertisements. concluded thatthecampaignviolatedsecurityandelectionlawswhentargetingmillionsof additional people.Meanwhile, investigations intothe Vote Leave Brexit campaignhave 13 Russian nationals,12Russian intelligenceofficers,three Russiancompanies,andtwo being brought againsteightAmericansassociatedwith Trump’s campaignoradministration, operatives andthecampaignofnow-President Donald Trump, resulting infederalcharges in theirelections.TheFBIalsolaunchedinvestigations intopotentialtiesbetween Russian into falseormisleadinginformationthatwascirculated by foreign-coordinated campaigns Intelligence andSecurity Committee,andtheUnited States Congress alllaunchedinquiries The U.K. Electoral Commission,theU.K. Parliament’s Culture Select Committeeand linked toactorswithtiesRussian government, businessandintelligenceagencies. websites andvideostoadvocate forpro-Kremlin interests, andmore —were ultimately creation ofsocialmediaaccounts,discussionboard accounts,manipulatedcontent,news democracies around theworld.Theseforeign influenceoperations—whichincludedthe election calledintoquestionthelegitimacyoftheiroutcomesandraisedconcernsin Foreign interference intheU.K.’s 2016Brexit referendum andthe2016U.S.presidential authority toannouncewhetheranyincidentorseriesof incidentshad The government bureaucrats convened apanelofnon-partisan withthe to safeguard thecountry’s October electionfrom foreign interference. Federal officialsannounceda government-wide planin 2019 January process from cyberthreats.” intelligence andpublicsafetyagencies“to defendtheCanadianelectoral as theMinister ofDemocratic Institutions, working withdefence, In 2017,Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointedMPKarinaGould Canada’s National ©2020|7 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media briefings on various issues related totheonlineinformationenvironment inCanada. at McGill University, bringingjournalistsfrom different newsrooms togetherfor regular a jointinitiative ledby the Public Policy Forum andtheMax Bell SchoolofPublic Policy a strong andindependentpress. It wasanintroduction totheDigital Democracy Project, to competingwitheachother, emphasizingthatthe bestdefenseagainstdisinformationis The workshop soughttocreate acollaborative environment amongjournalistswhoare used and potentialforforeign interference inCanadianpolitics. of related mis-anddisinformation.Theworkshop alsoincludedadiscussionofthehistory that brought togetherjournalistsfrom 24different newsrooms in Brazil to fight election- process, including anin-depthcasestudyofComprova, acollaborative verification project CrossCheck fact-checkinginitiative andhow toincorporateitsmethodsintothenewsroom fabricated websites, memesandmanipulated imagesandvideos.Journalists learnedaboutthe topics asdiscovering problematic contentonline,advanced verification andidentifying researchers,national securityexperts, scholars andmore. Breakout sessionsincludedsuch national Canadiannewsrooms togetherwithfact-checkingprofessionals, publicpolicyand growing threat ofdisinformation.It brought several dozen journalistsfrom regional and on learningfrom thesuccessesandfailures ofrecent initiatives aimedatcombatingthe That spiritdrove a mediaworkshopMay 2019two-daynews indowntown Toronto focused press tookseriouslyasitprepared forthe2019election. the informationtheyneedtomakeinformeddecisions—amandateCanada’s independent was reactive, notproactive), makingitthejobofpress toensure citizens have accessto disinformation. Government were efforts (foronething,theirsystem boundtofallshort This isone reason thepress role indefendingagainst playssuchacrucial way asforeign operatives andbadactors. disinformation,leavinganopeningforpartisan problem: Canada’s electionlawsdon’t crackdown ondomesticdisinformationinthesame information through localsources andsuchas WikiLeaks. layer Thisaddsanew tothe social mediaandmessagingappstoinfiltratedomesticpoliticaldiscussions“laundering” adopted tacticsthatare similartothoseusedby Russia, whileforeign operatives are using domestic actorspresents anincreasing threat inCanadaandelsewhere. Domestic actorshave The government’s focusedonforeign efforts interference, butonlinedisinformationfrom Canada’s National ©2020|8 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media presidential election in thefinal weeks ofthe2016 visited a“fake news” website voting-age adultsintheU.S. more of thanone-quarter found thatthemore people useFacebook, themore “fake news” theyconsume. Canada’s information environment to With exposure more meansofgettingnews, andmore peoplecitingsocialmediaastheirprimary most popular20real stories. news percent) expressed concernsthat“fake news” couldimpactthenextfederalelection. 57 percent saidtheyhadbeenfooledby a“fake news” story. Anoverwhelming majority(70 that 75percent ofrespondents saidtheycomeacross “fake news” atleastsometimes,and media. Canadians are relying lessontraditional sources fornewscoverage andturning tosocial 10 percent websites ofvisitstothetop690U.S. news comefrom socialmedia.Anotherstudy found more than40percent ofvisits to“fake news” websites comefrom socialmedia,whilejust islikelytobeagrowingdubious informationmasquerading asnews problem. A2017study es e ts c e acr ss a e e s at leasts eti es tra iti al e ia utlets es e ts l i gt “fake news” storiesreceived more shares, reactions, andcommentsthanthe months leadinguptothe2016presidential election,the20mostpopular weeks ofthe2016presidential election. Anotherreport foundthatinthe of voting-age adultsintheU.S.visiteda“fake news” website inthefinal neighbors tothesouth.According tooneestimate,more thanone-quarter There isgood reason tobe concerned, basedontheexperienceofour le a a e es e ts e s st r anadian nternet e istration thority anadian o rna ism o ndation si g s cial e iat a e e s c ul i act es e ts c cer e t e e t e eralelecti access t e e s Registration Authority found from theCanadian Internet widespread inCanada:Areport exposure to“fake news” is Recent datasuggeststhat information through Facebook. Canadians getmostoftheir Other research suggeststhat from 54percent to58percent. rosemedia toaccessthenews who reported usingsocial the percentage ofrespondents 71 percent theprevious year; outlets fellto62percent from looking totraditionalmedia the numberofrespondents Journalism Foundation found by theCanadian A 2019survey Canada’s National ©2020|9 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media said politiciansandmembers ofthepublichave beentargetedby foreign cyberinterference targeting Canada’s democratic process duringthe2019federalelection hasincreased” and In a2019updatetothatassessment,CSEwarned “that thelikelihood ofcyberthreats around theworld,” CSEwrote inaJune 2017report. “And Canadaisnotimmune.” other onlineactivities.“Cyber threat activityagainstthedemocraticprocess isincreasing reports warningofahighpotentialforforeign influencein theformofcyberattacksand Based onrecent global trends, theCommunicationsSecurity Establishment issuedmultiple influence operationsaround theelection. exerting influence over Canadianpoliticians—raisetheprospect ofChinaundertaking prolonged diplomaticdisputeinvolving Huawei Technologies ofBeijing —andahistory of divisive issueslikeimmigrationpolicyandthedebateover oilpipelines. Meanwhile, a smear campaign.Russia hasalsouseditsinfamousonline“troll farm” tofantheflames Russia targetedCanadianForeign Freeland Minister Chrystia andherfamilyinanonline response totheRussian government’s involvement intheSkripal poisonings intheU.K., has played outinvarious forms.Afterthe Trudeau government implementedsanctionsin atargetforRussiantroops interference, athreat in Latvia makethecountry thatalready Canada’s dominancein theArctic, itsinvolvement inNATO andthepresence ofCanadian There’s alsogood reason tobeconcernedaboutCanada’s vulnerabilitytoforeign actors. Trump. in “fake news” storieswasstrongly linkedtodefectingfrom theDemocratic Party tovote for scholars Richard Gunther, Erik Nisbet, andPaul Beck, ina2018study thatfoundbelief closeelection,”the outcomeofwhatwasavery concludedOhio University politicalscience the perniciouspollutionofourpoliticaldiscourseby wassufficienttoinfluence fakenews in 2012andthenDonald Trump inthe2016presidential election.“[I]tishighlylikelythat prominent “fake news” narratives mayhave influencedpeoplewho voted for Barack Obama The impactofdisinformationisdifficulttoquantify, butthere’s evidencethatexposure to are isits t e s e sites urce e s e s Fa e ites ites r si g Direct . r si g Direct . t . i . . gi es earc . t er i s . gi es earc . e ia cial . Canada’s National ©2020|10 Observer e ia cial .
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media content filter the Russian propaganda usres indentifiedusing associated withthe73 The tophashtags and Venezuela toinfluencetheelection. that Canada’s were by monitoringefforts intelligence services Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran student activismpriortothe October election, CBCreported. Thesamesources told CBC intelligence are believed tohave already triedtoswaycandidatenominationsandinfluence communities inCanadatoinfluencethefederalelection. Individuals linkedtoChinese attempts by agentsoftheChineseandIndian governments toreach outtodiaspora officials toldCBCthatCanada’s were closelymonitoringpossible intelligenceservices targeting specificcommunitieswithinCanada. In September, several unnamedgovernment In additiontoonlineactivities,there are alsoreports ofon-the-ground influenceoperations change isattributabletohumanactivity. accounts expressed forpipelinedevelopment andoppositionto theideathatclimate support far-right perspective onestablishmentpolitics,” thestudyconcluded,notingthatmostof change andethicalissues.Thepropaganda pushed by theaccounts “promoted apopulist/ were amplifyingextreme onwedge viewpoints issuessuchaspipelinedevelopment, climate and Development Canada foundevidencethatautomated Twitter accountslinkedtoRussia conducted by thesocialmediacompanyDataMetrex inconjunctionwithDefence Research on andamplifiedthecontentiousseparatistmovement“Wexit,” known as whileastudy This prediction atleasttosomedegree. appearstohave cometrue, ScholarssayRussia seized polarizing socialandpoliticalissues to influence voters’ decisionsintheupcomingelection by exacerbatingtensionsaround in recent years,” theywarned,addingexpectedforeign operatives wouldattempt against Canadawouldresemble againstotheradvanced democracies activityundertaken operations over thepastfouryears. “We likelythatforeign cyberinterference judgeitvery Canada’s National ©2020|11 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media U to bedomesticinorigin. had todealwiththeomnipresent threat ofdisinformation,mostwhichappeared and minimizingthespread ofmis-anddisinformationonsocialmedia,Canadastill related safeguards aimedatincreasing transparency, ads cappingspendingonpartisan interference hasgoneawayjustbecausetheelectionisover. Even election- withnew that theelectionperiodwasfree ofdisinformation,northatthethreat offoreign Disinformation inthe2019election 13 incidentseachinJune, July andAugust, 19incidentsinSeptember and24incidentsin day gotcloser, from onlyfoursignificantdisinformation-related incidentsin May 2019,to Overall, the quantityofdisinformation-related events appearstohave pickedupas election reach, andpossiblyinfluence,significantnumbersofpeople. mainstream media,orthatfitintobroader, recurring themes,asthesehave thepotentialto sought tohighlightdisinformationevents thatwere either widelycirculated orcovered in solutions offered by thegovernment, techcompaniesandsubjectarea experts. We also methods ofmanipulation,andrecurring themesandpatterns,aswell policiesand asnew targeting Canada,butratheracompilationofdifferent typesofmisleadingorfalsecontent, isnotmeanttobeinclusivetimeline we ofallelection-related constructed disinformation media manipulation,onlinehoaxes propaganda, among othertopics.The andhyperpartisan Additional events were identified by reviewing National Observer’s own on social reporting combinations (e.g.“memes” and“Canadafederalelection”; “fake news” and“Canada”). keywordsacademic studiesandindependentanalysesmentioningcertain orkeyword 2019. To identifythem,we searched coverage, andgovernment fornews industry reports, significant disinformation-related events duringthesixmonthsfrom May to October Canada’s National Observer conductedaretrospective review toidentifyreports of Disi r ati relate i ci e tsi a that metthethreshold forpublicreporting. However, thisdoesn’t mean threats toCanada’s anyactivities electionssaidtheydidnotobserve ltimately, officialstaskedwithmonitoringand preventing possibleforeign u ul ug e ct and word associations. algorithms, messaging sentiment inauthentic activity, biased social mediadatatoidentify most ofwhichanalyzed election-related disinformation, several independentanalysesof October. We alsoidentified Canada’s National ©2020|12 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media comment sections. Islamophobic sentiment,someofwhichincitedhatespeech andthreats ofviolenceinthe False claimsaboutimmigrants andimmigrationpolicyoftenfeatured xenophobic or evidence ofcoordination. Canadian immigrationinthespanofjustoneweek, thoughNational didnot find Observer election. In September, twoseparateinternationalmediaoutletspublishedfalseabout stories that immigrantswhowere notyet Canadiancitizens couldbeabletovote inthe2019 much assistancetheyreceive from thegovernment. Some alsofalselyasserted onlinerumors misleading claimsaboutthenumberandsource of immigrantsenteringCanadaandhow On thetopic ofimmigration,somethemostprominent themesincludedfalseand conspiracy theoriesaboutclimatechange. Bernier toavoid repeating unfoundedclaimsand tointerview declined anopportunity of Bernier forbeingtoosoftonhisanti-sciencepositions,andoneCanadianjournalisteven inject disinformationintothediscussion.Some reporters alsocriticized themedia’s coverage policydiscussions,whileatthesametimemakingiteasierto and even silence important Greta Thunberg.Thistypeofpolarized, contentiousinformationenvironment canderail were from Bernier, andfourofthosefive tweets includedattackson young climateactivist found thatfive ofthetopten retweeted politicalpostsusingthehashtag#ClimateChange change: ANational analysisof90days Observer Twitter inearlyJune activity starting Bernier ended updominatingmuchofthesocialmediadiscussionsurrounding climate indirect campaigningagainstPPC. change isreal oradvocating forpoliciestoaddress itcouldbe considered aform of human-caused climatechange,anyadvertisements taking thepositionthatclimate since People’s Party ofCanada (PPC)leaderMaxime Bernier deniesthescienceof activity andsubjecttothird “issueadvertising” party . According rules toElections Canada, climate changeisreal andhumanactivityismakingitworse—couldbedeemedpartisan warned forthefirsttimethattakingapositiononclimatechange—even justsayingthat throughout thecampaign.On thetopicofclimatechange,Canada’s electionwatchdog Disinformation events related toclimatechange,immigrationandIslam were present “extreme-right misinformation” targetingChinese-Canadian WeChat users. Similar incidentswere reported around thesametime,involving fear-mongeringadsand platform WeChat, allegingthat Trudeau wouldlegalize hard ifhegotre-elected. drugs In October, Party the Conservative placedfalseads inChineselanguageonthemessaging Canadians towards ofthecampaign—includinganotabledomesticexample. thelatterpart There wasanincrease in disinformation-relatedreported incidentstargetingChinese- Canada’s National ©2020|13 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media November 282016 like lateCuban leaderFidel Castro. Photo from Infoman, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau photoshoppedtolook National Observer Feb. 19,2019.Photo by Andrew Meade inCanada’s A manholdsasignoutsideparliamentinOttawa on about whethersomeofthe activity mayhave beeninauthenticand/orcoordinated. aggregators. Thehashtag sawahugesurgeofactivityonelectionnight,raisingquestions of tweets usingthehashtag#Wexit onelectionnightcamefrom automatedaccountsand public relations firmH&KStrategies, whichsaiditfoundevidence thatnearly30percent CTV reported onananalysisofsocialmediaactivity surrounding Wexit, conductedby the them, itinturncreates aperception thatsomethingismore popularthanitactuallyis.” said Benjamin Decker, leadanalystattheGlobal Disinformation Index. “And by amplifying fringe voices thatare notacceptedby eithermainstream research, ormainstream politics,” movement. the Russians willoften doviaRT “What andSputnik istohighlightandamplify involvement ofstate-sponsored propaganda outletslikeSputnik inpromoting thedivisive has signsofbeingaRussian-backed campaign.Theypointedtoindicatorssuchasthe Heraldactors. TheCalgary talkedtoseveral academicswhosaidthe Wexit movement NDP. According toAstroscreen, thefive pages “regularly postedthesamememesandarticles a combinedfollowing of60,000users,were criticalof Trudeau, theLiberalParty andthe with election-related issuesand“exhibiting coordinated behaviour”. Thepages,whichhad analytics companyAstroscreen saiditdetectedanetwork offive Facebook pagesengaging insight intotherole ofdisinformationduringthefederalelectioncampaign.Thesocialmedia as Wexit mayhave beenamplified by automatedaccountsandforeign Multiple separatistmovement reports suggestedthattheAlberta known stories duringtheelectioncampaign. sitethatpostedseveral news unsourced, unattributedfalse purported with orsharingdisinformationpublishedby theBuffalo Chronicle, a suspicious activityinthereport centered around accountsengaging indicating adomesticcampaign.AsCBChighlighted,someofthe here andhere). Theadministratorsofthepages were allbasedinCanada, October 9 andOctober 21(forexamplesoftheseposts,seehere, here, activity. Thecompanyfoundatotalof50coordinated postsbetween within three-minute intervals,” anindicationofpossiblecoordinated Several independentanalysesandreports alsoprovided additional claimsappearmore legitimateto inflammatory readers. the platform’s policiesagainsthatefulconductwhilealsomakingthe mask ofa“news network”, whichmayhave made it easiertoevade promoted Islamophobia andhatespeechwhilehidingbehindthe secretly wantstoenactSharia LawinCanada.Other Facebook pages immigrants andMuslims, suchasthepersistentmyththat Trudeau conspiracytheoriesabout Canada were ahubforinflammatory The Facebook pagesassociatedwiththe Yellow Vest Movement in Canada’s National ©2020|14 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media campaign, pleaseseetheattachedtimeline.) (For anoverview ofmajordisinformation-related events aheadofandduringthe2019election accusations.” while Canadianmainstream mediaissometimesunjustifiablyattackedwithfakenews attacks againstpoliticiansthatultimatelyenhancespoliticalpolarizationandechochambers, concerning isthatthe‘fake news’ tag issometimesemployed asatooltowagepersonal coveragethe news soundsobjective andneutral,”“What’s hewrote inTheConversation. Canada, attacksagainstmainstream mediaseemtobesystematicandcontinuous,even when get themediatochangeitstoneandunderminepublic’s init,Al-Rawisaid.“In trust mainstream mediaoutletsofaliberalbias.” to Theseattacksappeared ofaneffort tobepart said thetweets showed apatternof“systematic andtargetedattacksaccusingCanadian Al-Rawi, anassistantprofessor intheSchoolofCommunicationatSimon Fraser University, CBC andGlobal News, ratherthantorefer stories.Thestudy’s tofalsenews author, Ahmed was mostcommonlyusedtoexpress dissatisfactionwithmainstream outletsincluding news variations oftheword ‘fake news’ inreference toCanadianpolitics,andfoundthattheterm The analysislookedatmore than10,000tweets from May through September 2019using hashtag #FakeNews wasbeingusedtodiscredit mainstream coverage ofCanada’s election. Another independentanalysisof Twitter datapublishedby aCanadianscholarfoundthatthe not provide it. Canadians.” However, whenaskedtoshare the data usedfortheanalysis,H&Kstrategiesdid amountofconversation,for adisproportionate causingittocatchtheattentionofother trending function,” acompanyspokespersontoldCTV. “Theseaccounts were responsible inflatingtheengagementandgamingand spurtheinitialdiscussion,artificially Twitter’s most (72percent)ofaccountsusingthehashtagwere authentic.“[B]otswere usedtofuel According toH&K’s analysis,muchoftheinitialactivityappeared tobeinauthentic,though together. oneanother’sand running storieswhileallowing theirreporters andnewsroomstowork BuzzFeed News tocombatpotentialmisinformation,pooling partnered inan effort resources filed work thatits didintothecoveragereporters area asitemerged.The Toronto Starand information onlineasadedicatedbeat.Others, such asCTVNews through its Truth Tracker, Some outlets,suchasCBCNews and National Observer, taskedindividualreporters to cover disinformation aheadofthe2019election. Star, CTVNews andNational —devoted Observer specificcoverage focusedon mis- and Several Canadianmediaoutlets—includingCBCNews, BuzzFeed News, The Toronto How Canadian mediaconfronted disinformation in2019 Canada’s National ©2020|15 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media or opinionpieces. debunked. Furthermore, AFP’s fact-checkingprogram didnotcover politicaladvertisements to theproject meantthatonlyalimitednumber offalsehoodscouldbeaddressed and published regularly, butgiven thevolume ofcontentathand,assigningonlyonejournalist to Canadiansocietywere alsotakenintoaccount.The results ofthesefact-checks were 1,000 shares ormore onFacebook, thoughotherfactorssuchasbelievability andrelevance circulating ontheplatform.Claimswere generallyeligibleforfact-checkingiftheyhad fact-checking program, assignedajournalist toratetheaccuracyofprominent stories news In additiontotheseinitiatives, AgenceFrance-Presse, ofFacebook’s apartner third-party multiple mediums,includingprint,video,andsocialmedia,topublishthisinformation. Like CTVandCBC,Global News alsoproduced regular fact-checks andmadeuseof readers. the content(e.g.,“True,” “False,” or“Muddy”), whichprovided aclearreference pointfor exploringtheoriginsofviralcontent.Somein-depth articles fact-checksassignedaratingto features focusedonevents suchastheleadersdebatesandprovincial elections , aswell as addition tofact-checkingspecificclaimsandstatements,CBCalsopublished accuracyandplausibilityofstatementsmadeby politiciansandtheirparties.”truthfulness, In clips andradio CBC alsopublishedfrequent fact-checksinavariety ofmediums,includingprint,video disinformation. “Truth Tracker” endedwitharequest article toreaders tosubmitpossibleinstancesofmis-or fact-checking initiative, CTVactively soughttipsandrecommendations from readers. Each related ofits videoclips,explainers,andsocialmediaposts.Aspart claims,aswell asshort media’s fact-checkingprojects. Truth Tracker incorporatedtraditionalfact-checksofelection- CTV’sElection “Federal Truth Tracker . Thenetwork’s focusedon website said itsfact-checkingefforts “assessingthe ” wasamongthemostcomprehensive ofCanadian Canada’s National ©2020|16 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media disinformation online. disinformation whostudies journalist A socialscientistand (@RVAWonk) Caroline Orr T The reporting was supported The by several wassupported otherelementsoftheproject:reporting through theproject.original articles anti-disinformation campaigns.Between May andNovember, we publishedatotalof65 andgovernment electionadvertising, involvementparty indisinformationand andindustry digital manipulationviaautomatedaccounts,misleadingmemesand doctored images,third- Observer hiredObserver tworeporters specificallytocover disinformationintheelection: rise ofhateinthelead-uptoandduring2019federalelectioncampaign.National Integrity Reporting Project About Canada’s National Observer’s Democracy and amplifying thehashtag.The hashtagcontinuedtobeamongthemostdominantanti- investigatedObserver thephenomenonandrevealed thatautomatedaccountswere #TrudeauMustGo rocketed tothetopof Twitter’s trending listinCanadaJuly, National as in-depthanalysesofsignificant socialmediaevents. For example,whenthe hashtag included doingdailyreviews oftrending topics,toppostsandcuratedcontent,aswell monitoring majorsocialmediaplatformssuchas Twitter, Facebook andReddit. This dissemination ofmis-anddisinformation,we devoted asignificant amountoftimeto Given role intheproduction thatsocialmediaoftenplaysanimportant and 1. Social mediamonitoring devote specialattention,timeandfocustocovering disinformationandthe Integrity Reporting Project), National madeacommitmentto Observer hrough theElection Integrity Reporting Project (now theDemocracy and reporting ontheoilindustry. issue withbackground in newtothe A journalist (@EmmaMci) Emma McIntosh policies andpractices,problematic algorithms, examiningsocialmedia This includedarticles for theElection Integrity Reporting Project. comprised thebulkofourpublishedreporting Original investigations, features andanalyses as well as its offlinemanifestations. disinformation andonlinehateextremism, We alsofocusedontheintersectionof memesandother dubiouscontent. rumors, and theoilindustry, aswell assources ofviral related toenvironmentalism, climatechange and digitalmanipulationprioritized issues National Observer’s coverage ofdisinformation Canada’s National ©2020|17 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media “is probably impossibleifyou are following alltherules.” a computerengineersaidextractingallofthedataonpoliticaladsfrom Facebook’s library because ofbugsinthesystem,andoneNYUresearcher withtwodecades ofexperienceas tousethetoolsystematically trackpoliticaladsfailed the EUelectionsin2019,efforts first timeFacebook’s hasproven adlibrary tobeproblematic whenputtouse.During because we lackedthetimeandresources Thisisnotthe neededfortheundertaking. dealing withalargenumberofads,andwe were ultimately forced toabandonourplans transparency laws.However, difficulttowork withwhen tobevery we foundthelibrary using theplatform’s adlibrary, whichwasrolled outtocomplywithCanada’s new We hadalsohopedtocreate onFacebook adatabasetotrackallpoliticaladvertisements like theclimatecrisis.” discussionswhilealsoamplifyingextremecan ultimatelyderailimportant voices onissues how easilysocial-mediahashtagscanbehijackedby smallgroups ofaccounts.Thisactivity spread ofmis-anddisinformation.Aswe reported atthetime,“Thefindingshighlight itself. nature Thehyperpartisan ofthediscussionalsoprovided grounds forthe fertile substantive topicsandeffectively steeringtheconversation awayfrom climatechange Thunberg dominatedthe#ClimateChangediscussionon Twitter, drowning outmore We have already referred toouranalysisshowing Maxime Bernier’s criticismofGreta valuable insightintovulnerabilitiesthatcouldprovide anopening fordisinformation. functions andinteractswiththebroader socialmediaenvironment. It alsoyielded allowed ustoidentifypatternsover timeandbetterunderstand how disinformation election-related keywords andhashtagssuchas#ClimateChangeimmigration.This involved ofoursocialmediamonitoringefforts ongoingtrackingoftop Anotherpart campaign. ofaninternationaldisinformation U.S. right-wingpolitics,suggestingthatitmaybepart hashtag #TrudeauMustGo between Sept. 3and5were onesthatprimarilyidentifiedwith researcher Marc Owen Jones foundthatapproximately 15percent ofaccountsusingthe election-related disinformationandotherformsofmanipulation.Further analysisby Trudeau hashtagsofthe2019campaignseason,andwasconsistentlyassociatedwith resources intootherareas, especiallyundercovered areas. assigned tofact-checkpoliticians, campaignsandelection-related material,sowe putour project. Other, organizationsinCanadaalready largernews had reporters whowere thoughwe didnotmaketraditional fact-checkingthecentralfeaturerumours, ofthe widely shared claimsmadeby publicofficialsas wellasviralsocialmediahoaxes and In themonthsleadinguptoelection,we publishedavariety offact-checks covering 2. Fact checking Canada’s National ©2020|18 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media disinformation inorder tofigureBeyond outthebestwaystointervene. thedirect impact, toidentify thesources, patterns,andcommoncausesunderlying accountable, andtrying bodies placestheemphasison action:creating change,holdingpeopleandorganizations modelof fact-checkingproposedThe new by thethree internationalfact-checking Fact checkingcanwork butnotifthisisallwe do.” lots offactchecks,peoplestillbelieve inaccuratethingsandpoliticiansstillspindistort. checking initiatives. “Nobody should besurprisedwhen,despitefactcheckerspublishing scale alonedoesn’t stackup,” Full Fact wrote initsJune 2019report onthestateoffact- “The ideathatfactcheckingcanwork by correcting thepublic’s inaccuratebeliefsonamass proposed approach anew thatgoesbeyond justpresenting thecorrect information. why, inJune 2019,representatives from fact-checkinginitiatives inthree different countries need more evidencetounderstandhow fact-checkingcontentcanbemosteffective.” Thisis month by theU.K.-basedfact-checkingorganizationFull Fact acknowledged that“we still the researchers behindaMarch 2019study andideologicalcommitments,”such informationchallengestheirpartisan concluded checking more generally. “By andlarge,citizens heed factual information,even when those involving deeplyheldbeliefs,anddoes notnecessarilyapplytotheprocess offact- More recent situations,especially evidenceindicatesthatthiseffectislimitedtocertain information more strongly thanifnothingwassaidatall. effect whereby attemptstocorrect misleadingclaimsmaymakepeoplebelieve thefalse believe debunked claims.Some studieseven suggestthatfact-checkingmayhave abackfire styleoffact-checkingactuallymakespeopleanylesslikelyto whether thisstraightforward that canbeusedby citizens, journalistsandpolicymakersalike,there isstilldebateover falsehoods. Thoughthere isinherent value inestablishinga record ofpublishedfact-checks checking, anapproach thatinvolves simplypublishingfactualinformationtorefute We alsotookinto considerationtheeffectiveness ofso-called“firstgeneration” fact- it off. beforegetting aheadofaviralrumor itspreads widelycanbeaneffective meansofcutting information through theprocess offact-checkingandreporting onit.On theotherhand, something isstillconfinedtothefringesofsocialmedia,journalistsriskamplifyingfalse fact-checkingishow claimorpieceofcontentisworth widelyithasspread.certain When factorwhendecidingwhethera and otherfalsehoodsonsocialmedia.One important of fabricatedtweets andposts,deceptively editedphotosandvideos,conspiracytheories campaigns, butitbecomeslessclear-cutwhendealingwiththeseeminglyendlesssupply practice fornewsrooms tofact-check statementsmadeby prominent politicalfigures and threshold fact-checking.Itclaim mustmeetacertain orcriteriatobeworth isstandard A secondconsiderationwaswhattypeofcontentmeritsfact-checkingandwhetherafalse . Still, areview oftheevidencepublishedthat Canada’s National ©2020|19 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media disinformation andfringeconspiracy theories,andattimesitreposted contentfrom hate of more than200,000people. Thepagewaslittered withhatespeech,threats ofviolence, investigated anIslamophobic Facebook website page masqueradingasanews toanaudience social mediacompaniesincluding Twitter andFacebook. In oneinstance , National Observer Several investigations publishedby National resulted of Observer inaction onthepart measures. based disinformationposedadifficultchallengetothe federal government’s electionintegrity off aformerstudenttostayquietaboutthescandal. Our examinedhowreport domestically- Chronicle publisheditsunsourced, unsubstantiatedallegationthat Trudeau topay wastrying as ateacherat West Point Grey Academy. Thehoax really gainedtractionwhenthe Buffalo oftheentire aboutthefakesexscandalinvolving project wasanarticle story Trudeau’s time Fifteen we publishedhadmore ofthearticles Themost-read than10,000uniquepageviews. exposed inthesystemsofsafeguards created by government andsocialplatformsalike. kinds, withagreat dealofreader interest. But atleastassignificant were thegapsitalso Over theEIRP’s six-month scope,ourreporting exposeddis-andmisinformationofmany The Election Integrity Reporting Project’s impact that we approached ourown initiative atNational Observer. as willthoseinpositionsofpower whofailtoactstoptheproblem. It waswiththisethos false informationwillnotonlybepubliclyidentified,butheldaccountablefortheiractions, this approach alsocultivates normsby new signalingthatthosewhointentionally spread landscape aheadofthefederalelection. of fact-checkingduringthe Trudeau blackfacecontroversy, andtheFacebook advertising regarding immigrationandassociatedpopulistnativisttendencies, theeffectiveness top electionissues,politicalpolarizationinmediaandonsocialmedia,publicopinion The research memosfocusedonthemedialandscapeinCanada,publicperceptions of Observer. seven memos, eachofwhichwasshared withagroup ofnewsrooms, includingNational media channels.Thefindings from these research projects were summarized inaseriesof understand how informationanddisinformationflow through journalistic andsocial ofthepublicandanalyzedthis project socialmediametricstobetter conductedsurveys of Public Policy atMcGill University. In themonthsleadinguptofederalelection, Democracy Project, ajointinitiative by thePublic Policy Forum andtheMax Bell School Another componentoftheproject involved anongoingcollaborationwiththeDigital 3. CollaborationwithDigital Democracy Project Canada’s National ©2020|20 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media pushing targetedcontentbased onuserbehaviorandpreferences. election campaignisn’t clear, asinfluenceis difficulttomeasure, especiallywithalgorithms or Reddit enabledthespread memes anddisinformationduringCanada’s ofhyperpartisan one platformandshared itontheirown Pinterest pages.Theprecise degree towhich Pinterest Facebook. In otherinstances,unwittingAmericans pickedupRussian-generated contentfrom and hosted” contentonPinterest before pushing ittootherplatformssuchas Twitter and a federalinvestigation intoRussian election interference, Russian operatives “created, tested, influence operations. According delivered testimony toexpert before theU.S.Senate of aspart alsoshows thatbothPinteresthistory andReddit have roles played inforeign important anti-Trudeauthe platformwithextreme, content,particularly hyperpartisan memes.Recent use analgorithm,andduringtheweeks leadinguptotheelection,thatalgorithmflooded not have a majorproblem withdisinformationgoingviral.However, Pinterest doesinfact thattheimage-sharingplatformdoesnot use aninternalalgorithmanddoes too, asserting The samebriefingmemoshowed that government officialsmissedthemark onPinterest, allegations thattheprimeministerwasimmersedinanon-existentsexscandal. during theelection,platformendedupplayingamajorrole inspreading unsubstantiated campaigns.” Yet disinformationandhatespeechhave thrived onReddit foryears, and problems with ‘fake news,’” andare not “particularly usefulforco-ordinated disinformation platforms,includingRedditbelieving thatcertain andPinterest, donot“have agreat dealof officials metwithstaffers from several socialmediacompaniesin Aprilandwalkedaway in May 2019andobtainedby National through Observer freedom ofinformation,federal According toabriefingnoteprepared for Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould plan toholdsocialmediacompaniesaccountableforstemmingtheflow ofdisinformation. In multipleinstances,National foundsignificant Observer weaknesses inthegovernment’s issued acorrection totheiroriginalstatementonsocialmedia. greenhouse gasemissions.AfterNational fact-checkedtheclaim,Green Observer Party invented by aRepublican operative seekingtomanipulatethepublicintocomplacencyabout the Green Party released afalsestatementclaimingthattheterm‘climate change’ was National Observer’s reporting alsoprompted corrections from public officials. Inoneinstance, amplification ofthe#TrudeauMustGo hashtag. accounts afterNational identifiedthemaskeyaccountsinvolved Observer intheartificial Infowars. Alongthesesamelines, Twitter removed agroup ofinauthentic,likelyautomated resulted intheremoval ofaFacebook pageforafar-rightconspiratorial website associatedwith Facebook andpresented themwiththefindingsfrom ourinvestigation. Asimilarinvestigation naturethe true ofthecontent.Thepagewas removed after contacted National Observer Canada,” makingitappearmore legitimateasasource andhelpingitblendinwhilemasking groups. Allofthiswaspackagedunderthelabel“National News Conservative Network Canada’s National ©2020|21 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 71% threat facingjournaliststoday. online harassmentasthebiggest of journalistsinCanadaidentified Everyone whoworked ontheproject wasaffected by thisinsomeway: ability torespond tosuchattacks. be seenasawayofsuppressing thedemocraticimmunesystemandweakening our of sources. Such harassmentoftenaccompaniesdisinformationcampaigns;itcan Harassment andthreats Less severe incidentsofharassmentwere aregular from occurence. Thisincludedeverything • • • A discredit National Observer’s reporting about oureditorandCEOonsocialmedia,inwhatappeared tobeanattempt as aformermemberoftheCanadianmilitary, comments postedanumberofdefamatory Yellow Vest activistwhotargetedoneofourreporters. Theman,whodescribedhimself Additionally, oureditor-in-chiefwastargetedby asmearcampaigninvolving thesame enough towarrantreporting tolawenforcement authorities. Telegram. She alsoreceived frequent threats onsocialmedia,someofwhichwere severe butinsteadofrespondingcomment onanarticle, toher, hepubliclypostedheremailon In anotherinstance,thisreporter reached outtoafar-rightmediapersonalityfor across multiple socialmediaplatforms,includingReddit, Facebook and Twitter. with the Yellow Vests movement inCanada.He andvideos thenpostedthesearticles videos writtenby someonewhosesocialmedia profile indicatedthathewasassociated of commentsinaseriesofarticles subject toanumberoffalseallegationsandcrude “kill list” thatwascirculated by neo-Nazi groups onthemessagingapp Telegram, and One reporter working ontheDemocracy andIntegrity Reporting Project wasputona particularly asustainedcampaignofharassmentandthreatsparticularly from avariety a numberofunanticipatedchallengesasindividualsandteam, s muchtimeaswe spentplanningtheproject, we stillencountered journalists today. identified onlineharassment asthebiggestthreat facing Journalists (CPJ),71 percentofjournalistsinCanada conductedby theCommitteetoProtecta survey especially journalistswhoare women.According to These experiencesare notuncommon amongjournalists, harassment onsocialmedia. the credibility ofpublishedreports toname-callingand false accusationsofbiasandattemptstoundermine Canada’s National ©2020|22 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media toll ofonlineattacks. journalists protect themselves online,aswell asresources fordealingwiththepsychological and abuse.TheCommitteeto Protect Journalists offersa“ reduce therisksandlessenseverity oftheconsequencesassociatedwithonlineharassment There are noeasysolutions totheseproblems, butthere are stepsthatjournalistscantaketo Engagement. sources,platforms andreduce innews according trust toresearch from theCenterforMedia targeted by it.Just seeingabusive commentsonlinecanshapeperceptions ofdigitalnews Furthermore, inthemedia,even onlineabusecanerode amongthosewhoaren’t trust profession entirely duetotheconstantthreats andharassmenttheyexperienced. sources becauseofthreats andabuse.Many respondents saidtheyhadconsidered leavingthe storiesduetoonlineharassment,whileotherssaidtheyhadtroublereporting with certain Foundation (IWMF),40percent ofwomenjournalistsaround theworldhave avoided topics.Accordingor reporting oncertain toastudyby theInternational Women’s Media either withdrawfrom onlineengagementandsocialmediaaltogether, oravoid discussing being thetargetofabusive behavioronlinemayresult inself-censorship, wherein people targeted. Perhaps intermsoftheimplicationsfordemocracyisthat mostimportantly Research indicatesthattheseexperiencescanhave long-lastingeffectsonthosewhoare digital safetykit Canada’s National ©2020|23 Observer ” tohelp
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 2. 1. Recommendations forjournalists andnewsrooms Countering disinformation: so-called “dark advertisements”. and tofunnelcontenttowards specificsegments ofthepopulationviamicrotargeting and making iteasierthanever toproduce anddisseminate disinformation toawideaudience, intelligenceandautomation sophisticated, withadvances intechnologysuchasartificial type ofcoverage. Thetacticsused by stateandnon-stateactorsare growing increasingly the problem, butalsoensuringthatreporters are adequatelytrained and equippedforthis demands acommensurateresponse, whichnotonlyincludes devoting specificcoverage to The sheer volume ofmis-anddisinformationcirculating in today’s mediaenvironment Dedicate mediaresources tocounteringdisinformation. changing informationenvironment. we riskmissing thebiggerpicture andgettingcaughtoffguard, especiallyinourrapidly disinformation through thenarrow lensofelection-related disinformation,Gray cautioned, existsatall.Ifinto questionthenotionthatobjective we truth conceptualize theproblem of between different ideological,socioeconomic,racialand religious groups, andattimes,call coverage,of news inciteangertowards individualsorgroups, amplifydivisions certain incrediblealso seektounderminetrust sources ofinformation,shape the toneordirection “Elections are onlyonetargetamongmany,” Gray said.Disinformation campaignsmay ofabroader,part long-terminfluenceoperation,said DFRLab’s John Gray. When itcomestoforeign disinformation,particularly, electioninterference istypicallyone prepared day. todealwithevery disinformation isanongoingandevolving problem thatjournalistsandnewsroomsmustbe trends are takingplace. While electioncampaignsare vulnerabletimeperiod, aparticularly of existingandemergingtrends, aswell asanunderstandingofthecontextinwhichthese Effectively counteringdisinformation requires regular monitoringandconstantawareness Extend Initiatives tocounterdisinformation beyond electioncampaigns. should efforts todefendagainstit. should efforts Theproblem doesn’tmanifestations ofdisinformation. endonelectionday, andneither RECOMMENDATION: Election-related represents disinformation justoneofmany Canada’s National ©2020|24 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 3. why it’s for[newsrooms] tofocusresources soimportant here.” “Disinformation reporters understandnuancemuchbetter[thanothers],Karansaid.“Thisis where tolook,andhow toavoid commonmistakesandmisunderstandings. more accurate,comprehensive andresponsible coverage becausetheyknow whattolookfor, he notedthatinhisexperience,newsrooms withdedicateddisinformationreporters produce National Observer. Karanoftenworks withjournalistsondisinformation-related stories,and evolve, it’s onlygoingtobecomeharder,” DFRLabresearch associateKanishkKarantold “The challengeismuchgreater thananyone imagined,andastechnologiescontinueto to understandwithoutextensive experiencedealingwiththem. terminology, esoterichumor, andmore. Thesenuancesare oftendifficult,ifnotimpossible, media platforms,manyofwhichare hometouniquesubcultures withtheirown norms, Furthermore,rumors. messageboards there onforums, andsocial existsanentire underworld messaging appsandgroups, are alsomakingitharder todetectmaliciouscontentand New tacticsusedindisinformationoperations,includingagrowing reliance onprivate allegations accusingthemof beingbots,trolls orRussian operatives. At othertimes,this persistent attemptstoshutdown theirconversations andactivismonlinebasedonmisguided Americans more thananyothergroup, someAfrican Americanactivistsreported facing In theaftermathofRussia’s 2016disinformation campaign,whichtargetedAfrican marginalizing orsilencingthetargetedpersonsgroups. disinformation circulating inonlinecommunities,andaddress itinawaythatavoids further reporting stepthatcanhelpnewsrooms betterandmore process isacrucial quicklyidentify race, ethnicity, religion andotherdemographic characteristics,includingdiverse voices inthe disinformation. Since disinformationcampaignsoftenseektoinflametensionssurrounding works inthefirstplace,as well asfamiliaritywiththeissuesandpeoplefrequently targeted by Effectively counteringdisinformation requires anunderstandingofhow disinformation Foster diversity inthenewsroom. disinformation intheirowndisinformation specialty. integrated intothenewsroom andwork withotherreporters whoare likely toconfront or amplifyingfalsenarratives. reporters muchaspossible,disinformation shouldbe As back tothesource, itsimpact,andwriteaboutinawaythatavoids analyze repeating with thetraining andresources theyneedtoeffectively identifydubiouscontent,trace it RECOMMENDATION: Journalists covering shouldbeequipped disinformation Canada’s National ©2020|25 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 4. issues,” Binkowski added. “I strongly recommend thatreporters gettraininginracialsensitivityanddemographic falsehoods more quicklyandaddress theminculturallysensitive ways. cangive journalistsamoreexpertise nuanced understandingoftheissuesandhelpthemspot has extensive experiencecovering immigrationandborder-related issues.Thatsubjectmatter its earlieststages.Anotheremployee hasexperienceinracialpolitics,whileBinkowski herself the elementsthatare likelytomakesomethinggoviralandcanoftenspotcontentin example, oneemployee stories,sosheunderstands hadpriorexperiencewritingviralnews with diverse backgrounds whenassemblingherfact-checkingteamat TruthOrFiction. For managing editorofSnopes, toldNational thatshespecificallysoughtoutpeople Observer the newsroom. Brooke Binkowski, managingeditorof TruthOrFiction.com andformer and organizationsfrom affectedcommunities,as well asbringingmore diverse voices into disinformation, whichmayincludeseekingcommentfrom orcollaboratingwithindividuals Many oftheseproblems canbemitigatedby centeringtheperspectives ofthosetargetedby widely-covered Trudeau blackfacescandal. Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Centerwrote inOctober, amidreporting onthe stereotypes andchillsthespeechengagementofvisibleminorities,” researchers at issues surrounding raceandracismthat“fosters aclimateofhostilitythatre-enforces racist silencing effectcan result from insensitive, irresponsible orhyperpolarizingcoverage of information needsandvulnerabilities, uncover emergingdisinformationandunderstand Project, university scholars,socialmediaanalystsandlocalactivists,tohelp usidentify consulted withavariety ofindividualsandorganizations,includingthe Digital Democracy calls foran“all handsondeck” approach. At National Observer, we collaborated and technological andculturalfactors.Assuch,countering disinformation isachallengethat Disinformation isacomplexproblem driven by avariety ofsociopolitical,economic, Forge andcollaborative partnerships inthe fightagainstdisinformation efforts training exercises andhiringreporters withdiverse backgrounds andexperiences. aswell in communities andestablishingcommunitypartnerships, asparticipating resources, thismay includestepssuchasreaching outtoconsultwithmembersofaffected contribute tomarginalizationorsilencing.Depending onthecircumstances andavailable to makesure theirreporting process isinclusive andculturally sensitive, anddoesnot of racial, ethnicandreligious andnewsrooms shouldtakesteps minorities,journalists RECOMMENDATION: Since campaignssooftentargetmembers disinformation Canada’s National ©2020|26 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 5. field inawaythatnewsrooms maynotbeabletodoontheir own. aided by technologicaladvances,efforts collaborative initiatives canalsohelp level theplaying perspective. Given thatdisinformationcampaignsare oftenwell-funded andcoordinated tothesuccessofNationalcrucial Observer’s bothfrom apracticalandconceptual efforts, As asmallteamworking withlimitedresources, andcollaborations were partnerships the dismantlingofonlineactivistcommunities. andhoaxes,rumors andprevent falseaccusationsfrom resulting inreal consequences,suchas with representatives from localactivistcommunitiescanalsofacilitateearlyidentificationof activists oftenbecometargetsofdisinformation,establishingopenlinescommunication the historicalandpoliticalcontextsurrounding ongoingdisinformationcampaigns.Since in order to try to castdoubtontheactualreportingwhat wasreported inthe first placeinorder totry automated accounts(“bots”) manipulatinghashtags ortrending topicsoftenmisrepresented extensively on socialmediamanipulationnoticedthatpeopleseeking todiscredit evidenceof these potentialvulnerabilities.At National Observer, oneofourreporters whohaswritten todiscredit orcastdoubtontheirreporting, andthenpreemptivelymight try addressing journalists canwork togetaheadofbadactorsby considering thevarious waysthatsomeone content areas, andcanalsobe carriedoutinformallyby individualjournalists.For example, In thenewsroom, thesetypesofexercises canbetailored toaddress different coverage and having thesediscussions,” Wardle saidinJanuary. ofstructured trainingprograms,part “itwouldalsobehelpfuliflotsofnewsroomsstarted as thecensus,usingfalseormisleadinginformation. While originally meanttobeusedas anddisrupt of thewaysyou mighttry them later. This may takemanyforms,but Wardle recommends askingjournaliststo“listall these tactics,butitcanalsohelpprepare ustodealwiththese tacticswhenwe encounter disinformation. On theonehand,thiscan give anideaofhow muchpeopleare aware of words, toputourselves inthe shoesofthosewhoare creating anddisseminatingonline First Draft News to“think encouragesparticipants likeatroll withawhiteboard” --inother During trainingsessionswithjournalistsandothermediaprofessionals, Claire Wardle of “Think likeatroll withawhiteboard.” sophisticated disinformation campaigns. sophisticated disinformation newsrooms makethemostefficientuseoflimited resources, especiallyinthefaceof andcollaborations efforts. Establishing partnerships counter-disinformation canhelp RECOMMENDATION doesn’t: Disinformation takeplaceinavacuum; norshould ” anelectionorotherkeygovernmental process, such Canada’s National ©2020|27 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media 6. bad faith efforts todiscreditbad faithefforts journalists, butitmakesmucheasiertocounterthem. #TrudeauMustGo were real Canadiansexpressing theirreal feelings.” Thisdoesn’t alwaysstop a sentencestatingthatinadditiontoautomatedaccounts,“many ofthoseusingthehashtag aboutautomatedactivityboostingthe#TrudeauMustGoin anarticle hashtag,sheincluded repeatedly, addressing shestarted theargumentsbefore theywere even made.For example, not allaccountstweeting aboutthetopicwere automated).Afterseeingthistacticused (i.e., by implyingthatherreporting onautomatedactivity Twitter wasincorrect because researchers attheUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison. later revealed tobelinkedRussia’s Internet Research Agency(IRA),according toananalysis by withembeddedtweets from outletspublishedarticles accountsthatwere major Americannews disinformation inmainstream media.Between January 2015andSeptember 2017,32outof33 Even thelargestandmostreputable newsroomshave toplant beenaffected by intentional efforts properly trainedtoidentifythesetacticsandknows how torespond effectively.” andconspiraciesby repeatingthem toamplifyrumours them‘on air’. Make sure your newsroomis they successfullyfooljournalistsintointegratingfalsecontent intoreporting, orby simplygetting Wardle tocausetrouble forthesakeofit,”misleading contentforpoliticalgainorsimplyby hoaxsterstrying “Journalists topush falseor shouldbeaware ofthewaytheycouldbetargetedby thosetrying election, tellingCanadianjournaliststoprepare tobetargetsofdisinformationcampaigns. Claire Wardle ofFirst Draft News soundedthealarmaboutthisahead oftheOctober public figures topickupfalsehoodsandunknowingly amplify themtothepublic.” defines as“techniques usedby mediamanipulatorstotargetjournalistsandotherinfluential become targetsofdisinformationcampaignsand“source hacking,” whichData &Society Because of theirhighprofiles andabilityto reach alarge numberofpeople,journalistsoften Defend againstsource-hacking andinformation operationstargetingjournalists. insight basedontheirown from whatothershave experiencesandlearn seen. exercise maybeeven more helpfulwhendonecollaboratively, allowing toshare journalists processes, andcanalsobeusedasamore structured training exercise. In anysetting,this andincorporatedthem. Thiscanbedoneinformally intojournalists’ regular reporting of badactorswhotraffic in indisinformation order to getaheadofthem bythinkinglike RECOMMENDATION: Journalists shouldbecomefamiliarwiththetacticsandgoals wrote intheonlinejournalPolicy Options. “Agents ofdisinformationconsideritawinwhen Canada’s National ©2020|28 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media cited inmainstream includingthe New newspapers, York Times. by thesame group ofpeople.In have resulted thepast,similarefforts infakeantifaaccountsbeing disinformation aboutantifascistsforseveral years andhadseenthesametacticsusedrepeatedly, often to identifythisdisinformationcampaignearlybecauseoneofourreporters hadbeen tracking andshapeperceptions about(actual)antifascists. to beanattemptdupeobservers We were able material,includingthreatsactivists andallshared ofviolence,inwhatappeared similarinflammatory accounts posingasantifascistactivists.Theengagedwithseveral prominent far-right National reported ononeexampleofthistactic,involving Observer thecreation offake Twitter accounts withfabricatedattributionandbad-faithcommentary,” Data &Society explains. authentic. “Using keywords, manipulatorswilloverpopulate taggedconversations usingimposter topicor traffic group ofpeople,makingitharderthe around acertain todifferentiate thefake from social mediaaccountsandcontentassociatedwithspecifickeywords andhashtagstocontrol search Another tactic,whichData &Society refers toas“keyword squatting”, involves thecreation offake or ignore anotheraspect. aspectofastory toencouragereporters tolookataparticular collages totry forgeddocuments,aswell astechniquessuchcreatingforged orpartially manipulative evidence methods toplantinformationinplaceswhere journalistsare likelytoseeit.Thiscanincludeleaking Source hackinginvolves more sophisticatedtechniques,usuallycharacterized by usingindirect or overlook signsofmanipulation—andbadactorsknow this. arejournalists oftenpressed fortimeandmaybemore through verification likelytorush so theycan’t beexploitedby others.For example,whenreporting on breaking news, content aswell asitssources. Finally, shouldbeaware journalists oftheirvulnerabilities in effective verification ofonlinecontent,includingtheidentificationmanipulated Journalists shouldalsobeequippedwithtraining andongoingresources toassistthem as well asidentifyingtopicsandkeywords thatare particularly ripefordisinformation. trending onlinecontentandtrack andothermisleadingcontentonsocialmedia, rumours these tactics,andtakestepstoavoid fallingprey. how Thisincludeslearning tomonitor RECOMMENDATION: Newsrooms shouldbeonthelookoutfor andjournalists Canada’s National ©2020|29 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media through anymediaandregardless offrontiers.” shouldhaveeveryone thefreedom to“seek, receive informationandideas andimpart United Nations’ (1948)Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights,whichstatesthat 19ofthe thatitisenshrinedinArticle livestheir everyday --aneedsoimportant informationtoguidedecision-makinginthevoting boothandin and trustworthy Conclusions actors. andthirdactivity by mayhave political parties beenadeterrent parties forpotentialbad it easier, campaign atleastinsomecases,totrackpolitical ads,whilelawsprohibiting certain aimedatcounteringdisinformation. efforts Additionally, lawsmade electionadvertising new have contributedtotheacceptabilityandoverall successoffact-checkinginitiatives andother vulnerable toit.Andthere is reason tobelieve thatCanadian’s mediamay inthenews trust disinformation and“fake news” mayhave beenoverblown, orthatCanadamaybeless withNational andininterviews Observer,post-election commentary thatthethreat of The lackofcoordinated disinformationcampaignsledsomejournalists to suggest,in sponsored informationoperations targetingtheelection. threshold forpublicreporting, andthere are noknown indicationsofwidespread state- the federalgovernment maintainsthatitdidnotidentifyelectioninterference thatmetthe Canada’s nationalsecurity andintelligenceagencies,aswell asscholarsandotherexperts, Ultimately, theworst-casescenariodidnotplayout inCanada.Despite warningsfrom how tospotdubioussocialmediapostsandotherformsofmis-disinformation. devote resources tocombattingdisinformationand,more broadly, toeducatingthepublicon nation’s madeaconsciousdecisionto largestmediaoutlets, newsrooms around thecountry repeat itselfhere.determined nottolethistory From small,independentplatformstothe the U.S.andU.K.,Canadianmediaheadedinto2019federalelectioncampaign Having seen theimpactofelection-related disinformationcampaignsincountriessuchas governance. andsystemof information tomakeinformeddecisionsaboutthefuture oftheircountry more. Thatthreat iseven more seriousduringelectioncampaigns,when voters needaccurate digital manipulationintheformofbots,search enginehijacking,algorithm-gamingand This rightisnow imperiled by theproliferation ofmis-anddisinformation,hatespeech A all otherrights(Bishop, 2011; Weeramantry, 1995).Citizens needaccurate been recognized asafundamentalhumanrightunderpinningtheexercise of ofafunctionaldemocracythathas ccess toinformationisanessentialpart Canada’s National ©2020|30 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media attacks, andrebuilding theresilience ofourcountry’s civicfoundations. bitaspersistent andinventive inpubliclife—mustbeevery infightingofftheir everywhere If we genuinelybelieve inCanadian democracy, those ofusinjournalism—andindeed polarized, dividedandignorant. boardroom, theyare tirelessly persistentandrelentlessly inventive instrivingtorender us whether theircampaignsare directed from a foreign oraCanadian intelligenceheadquarters and sometimesdevastating weapon. Theydon’t take years-long vacations between elections; actors, foreign anddomestic, who have learnedtowielddisinformation asasophisticated And thiswholecivicecosystemdependsincreasingly onourabilitytodefenditagainst account. andthemissionofcallingpower mediacommittedtotheethicalpursuitoftruth on news to shared democraticnormsandaninformed,engagedelectorate—allofwhichinturnrelies though, relies onourabilitytospeakhonestlywitheachotheringoodfaith.It dependson differences, andatleastunderstandthosethat resist resolution. Grasping thatopportunity, Canadians have, forafuture ifwe wantit,theopportunity where we resolve manyofthose begin closingthemthrough dialogueand shared understandings. profound polarization. But we alsohave acapacitytobothtalkacross thosecleavages andto undergoingitsowncolonialism, andclosephysicalculturalproximity toacountry interests, widelydifferingexperiencesandperspectives, atraumaticlegacyofexploitive withdeephistoricalcleavages,are competingregional ahighlydiverse andother country thereCertainly are divisionsinCanada. We shouldbedeeplysurprisedifthere weren’t. We advantage ofsocialfractures. Where there’s awedge, theycanmakeitmore so.” Canada isdifferent duetodisinformation,” hesaid.“These[disinformation]campaignstake our societyandtheinformationenvironment inwhichtheelectiontookplace.“Themapof disinformation didn’t have anyimpactontheelection,given thatwe know ithasimpacted Furthermore, asonegovernment source toldNational Observer, it’s difficulttosaythat interference andinfluenceoperations.” divide,Grayrural-urban “we said.Andlookingforward, are definitelytargetsforongoing “There are someclearpolarizingissuesinCanadiansociety” suchasimmigrationandthe Forensics Research Lab(DFRLab)whostudiesinformationoperations. tothis,”impervious saidJohn Gray, avisitingresearch fellow attheAtlantic Council’s Digital federal electionwasn’t amajortarget.“We’ve gottogetover thisideathatwe are somehow campaign, sayingforeign influenceanddisinformationare stillactive threats, even ifthe cautionedagainstlettingourguardObserver down intheaftermathofelection However, government sources anddisinformationresearchers whospoke to National Canada’s National ©2020|31 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media Disinformation-RelatedEvents Timeline • • • • • May 2019 • • • March 2019 • • • • • January 2019 Facebook rolled outanimage-detectiontooltobeginfact-checking Instagram posts. news.” doesnotspecifyhowcharter finesorpenaltieswould beenforced, nordoesitdefine “fake Said there wouldbe“meaningful penalties” fortech companiesthatdon’t comply, butthe news” andhatespeechtoholdsocial mediaplatformsaccountable. Trudeau forCanada;saysitwasdesigned totarget“fake digitalcharter announcesnew Facebook forlive-streaming tightensrule afterChristchurch shooting National investigation Observer reveals how far-rightextremists evade bansonFacebook Facebook announcedplanstocrackdown onanti-vaccine content. Facebook announcesitwillcreate digitaladslibrary Google will banpoliticaladsaheadoffederalelection additional contexttocontentpostedontheplatform. fake accountsusingAI,providing more transparency andproviding aboutadvertisers “multifaceted” approach includesthird-party fact-checking,detectionandremoval of challenges andresponding risks.”also anticipatingnew tonew Thecompanysaysthe elections —notonlyaddressing thethreats we’ve seenonourplatformsinthepastbut Facebook saidithasmade“massive investments” tohelp“protect theintegrityof misinformation online. Announced itwasgiving$7milliontoprojects aimedatincreasing publicawareness of transparent policies.)april tofightdisinformationandtheiradvertising abouttheirefforts election. (CoincideswithBill C-76,whichaimstocompeltechcompaniesbemore Called onsocialmediaplatformstodomore tocombatdisinformationaheadofthe response mechanism” ofForeign housedwithintheDepartment Affairs. the publicaboutdisinformationattempts.Thattaskforce isanadditiontoa “rapid “Critical Election Incident Public Protocol” will monitorandnotifyotheragencies election Govt ofCanada/Elections initiatives Canadaannouncesnew tosafeguard the2019federal Canada’s National ©2020|32 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media June 2019 • • • • July 2019 • • • • • • • • • • • • • Canada’s intelligencecommunityannouncedthat it hasidentified “foreign actors removing whitenationalistcontent from theplatform. company’s banonwhitenationalism doesn’t gofarenoughandisn’t achievingits goalof An externalauditofFacebook’s policiesandpracticesdetermined thatthesocialmedia for Trump during lead-upto2016election. Study provides evidencethatRussian propaganda on Twitter mayhave boostedsupport deceptive. initially postedby Global News, theneditorialized by CanadaProud --turnsouttobe A viralvideoofJustin Trudeau gettingsnubbedby Bolsonaro attheG20summit-- and unanswered questionsaboutitsjournalisticstandards andfundingmodel. investigation foundpoortransparency surrounding theoutlet’s party tiestoconservative The totransformitsimage,butaCBC/Radio-Canada Post Millennial istrying Internet trolls manipulateonlinepoliticalpollsinUS carbon tax(askingiftheyagree thatthetaxshouldbescrapped). Mystery group sendoutmasstextmessagesinquiringabout people’s onthe federal views surrounding harassment,abusive contentorthreats ofviolence. Twitter flaggingtweets from announcedthatitwillstart worldleaderswhobreakrules its election periodleadinguptotheofficialcampaign. Twitter during thepre- Canadaannouncedthatitwillbanpoliticaladvertisements tweetConservatives seeminglydoctored photoof Trudeau withdarker skin detecting maybe“the inthecoalmine” canary whenitcomestoonlinemanipulation. activity, sayssocial-mediaresearcher, warning thattheinauthenticactivitywe are Canada’s politicalconversations on Twitter are overrun by botsandotherinauthentic denyingclimatechange-extremeLisa Raitttweets, thendeletes,article weather link the fightagainstclimatedisinformation Climate scientistMichael Mann winsdefamationbattle,showcasing techniquesin new isfake Viral videoofRaptorsfancheeringinjury National investigates Observer how hategroups co-optedthe Yellow Vests movement nationalist Faith Goldy andaformereditor-in-chiefofthe Walrus, butitwasn’t true. A claimthatIndigenous menkill70percentofMMIWG waspickedupby white Islamophobia behindfacadeofnews National investigation Observer reveals how aCanadianFacebook pageweaponized Canada’s National ©2020|33 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • • • August 2019 • • • • • • • • • A report by theDigital Democracy Project foundthat“simply regardless consumingnews, and disinformationonitsplatform. Fact foundthatFacebook stillisn’t doingenough tocombatthespread ofmisinformation A transparency report released by theU.K.-basedfact-checkingcharityorganizationFull from National Observer. strategist invented theterm“climate change.” Thetweet wascorrected itafteraninquiry The Green tweeted outtheincorrectParty informationclaimingthata Republican an Islamic centre inMississauga, Ont. ripping outpagesofaQur’an andplacingthemonthewindshieldsofcarsparked outside was tracedtoSandra Solomon, whowasinvestigated by Peel Police inMarch 2018for than 185,000likes,andpostsofthevideowere shared more than7,000times.Thevideo but wasalsopostedtoatleastthree anti-Trudeau Facebook groups. Thegroups have more is re-elected, hewillinstituteShariah law. on Thevideohasabout50,000views YouTube, YouTube videocirculating onsocial mediaclaimstoshow animamsayingthatif Trudeau waveinauthentic activity--withanew ofdisinformation. Twitter usersresponded totherevelation that#TrudeauMustGo wasboostedby on Twitter.32,000 infiveCanada. Thevideorackedup400,000views dayson Facebook,andmore than A videoby CanadaProud forsplittingfrom amongAlbertans exaggeratedsupport past 48hours. accounts tweeting atnonhumanrates,including abouttwodozen accountscreated inthe Much oftheactivitysurrounding thetrending hashtag#TrudeauMustGo wasdriven by on alisticlewebsite toanapparent network ofbotson Twitter. National aboutGerald Butts’ tracedtherumor Observer from itsmurky networth origins Former NHLstarTheo tweeted that Gerald of$23million. Fleury Butts hadanetworth about formerprimeministerHarper on Twitter were incorrect atleastpartially Fact-check: Five ofsixclaimsthatdirector ofcommunicationsCameron Ahmadmade to show upatthewrong placetovote. in whichthecompany, iMarketing Solutions Inc., calledvoters inOntario andtold them federal carbontaxwastracedbacktothesamerobocall firmimplicatedina2011scandal The mysteriousmasstext-messagingcampaignasking onthe Ontarians abouttheirviews tosellorpromote “miracledubious healthclaims,includingpoststhattry cures.” Facebook announcedthatitisdowngrading contentthatmakessensational,misleadingor and potentiallyharmfulinformationaboutalternative cancertreatments”. Investigation finds Facebook and YouTube “are beingfloodedwithscientificallydubious attempting todirectly influencetheupcomingfederalelectioncampaign.” Canada’s National ©2020|34 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • • • • • September 2019 • • • • • • • • • • social media Analysis oftweets reveals how Bernier hijackedCanada’s #ClimateChangediscussion on Brunswick Green Party failed tofact-checkbefore spreading claimsaboutNDPexodus inNew decision tosendachildmurderer toCanada,which turnedouttobeafalsestory LeaderAndrew ScheertweetedConservative about theBritish government’s alleged saidaconvictedchildkillercouldcome here. another falsestory False Canadaimmigration storiesclaimedCanadawastakingin100,000Palestinians; activity --dark money, outside influenceanddisinformation Controversy over PPC’s anti-immigrantbillboards reveals dark sideofthird-party election Vancouver Sun op-edcallingforanendtothe“mass runs influxofillegals” identify misinformationonline Samantha Reusch launches“Apathy isBoring”, acampaigntohelpyoung Canadians gas pumps,agrassroots campaignfought backagainstthedisinformation. As theDoug Ford governments anti-carbontaxstickerswent uponOntario mandatory climate change,theycan’t agree onhow tosolve it policies neededtoaddress thosefacts--ie,even whenCanadiansknow thefactson underlying policy-related issuesdoesn’t necessarilyinfluencepeople’s beliefsaboutthe The Digital Democracy Project findsthatbeingbetterinformedaboutthefacts him. firmthatpaidforthemwaslinkedtoacompanyhostedfundraiser advertising anti-immigration billboards featuringhispicture thatwent upacross Canada. But the People’s Party ofCanadaLeaderMaxime Bernier saidhehadnothingtodowiththe incel movement: Canada. link between misogynyandextremism ofthe across theworld,includingbirthplace After aseriesofincidentsmassviolenceintheU.S.,National investigated Observer the year jailsentenceforpromoting hatred againstwomenandJews. The editorof Toronto-based publication Your Ward washandedthemaximumone- News A Post Millennial working foraracistwebsite editorwasfoundtohave ahistory seriously, despiterepeated TOS violationsover manymonths. National investigation Observer finds Facebook isn’t taking Yellow Vests Canadapages according totheDigital Democracy Project. The environment isthedominantissueforCanadiansaheadoffederalelection, of source, makespeoplesusceptibletobeingmisinformedabouttheissues.” Canada’s National ©2020|35 Observer .
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • October 2019 prior tohispoliticalcareer: allegations thathefalselyclaimedtohave worked asaninsurance broker inSaskatchewan LeaderAndrew Scheerwas forcedConservative toclarifydetailsofhisresume after Trudeau wasunderinvestigation scandal.” for the“SNC-Lavalin corruption Andrew Scheerforced todelete atweet falselyclaimingtheRCMP hadconfirmed Justin that falselysaidcomedianRickMercer wasurgingyoung peopleto“vote Conservative.” ridingassociationwasforced todeleteatweet party containingameme A Conservative foreign immigrants.” claimingCBCiscelebrating“the anarticle Canadians, runs replacement ofwhitesby White nationalistwebsite “eurocanadian,” associatedwiththeCouncilofEuropean between Sept. 3and5were onesthatprimarilyidentifiedwithU.S.right-wingpolitics. Owen Jones revealed that15percentofaccountsusingthehashtag#TrudeauMustGo Analysis ofabout34,000tweets from approximately 4,896accountsby researcher Marc disinformation inthepast. photos were beingshared onlineamongprominent U.S.operatorswhohave amplified Shorenstein Centerstudyfindsfakeimagesof Trudea’s blackfaceandbrownface Justin Trudeau’s blackfaceandbrownface photosemerge straw, despitetheparty’s claims party’s website thatwaslateraltered toshow herholdingareusable cupwithametal Green Party leaderElizabeth May washoldingadisposablecoffeecupinphotoonthe data-driven attemptstounderminetheconsensusonclimatechange Canada’s oilandgasproducers were foundtobe collectingpersonaldataandfunding buttheyaren’tnews, necessarilyequippedtostopitfrom spreading. Digital Democracy Project findsCanadiansare concernedabouttheproliferation offake Canada Proud wasfoundtobespendingcampaigndonationsatfounder’s company Crowd-funding posesachallengeforElections Canada electionwereaccounts talkingabouttheAlberta bots. inauthentic activity. Findings alsocountered earliermediareports thatathird ofthe provincialonline conversation duringthe2019Alberta election,usingcoordinated ofthe Analysis findsthatsupporters United Conservative likelymanipulatedthe Party replacement ofwhiteCanadians Eurocanadian claimingthe publishesarticle Toronto Dominion Bank ispromoting the says Canada’s electionhas so farbeen“largelyclean” Laura Edelson, aresearcher withtheNYUcentre’s Online Political Transparency Project, Canada’s National ©2020|36 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • • • • • • • • • • • • • • language publicationsinCanada andcommunitymembersare concerneditcould hamper anti-refugee andanti-LGBTQ uncheckedonChinese- rhetoricare virtually running “Extreme-right misinformationisflooding ChinesemediainCanada Facebook page. In Scarborough North, onConservatives’ fear-mongeringadsrun Chinese-language on WeChat, aspokespersontoldCBC. Elections Canada’s socialmediamonitoringteamalsohave spottedCanadianelectionads ifre-elected.drugs CBCobtainedacopyoftheChinese-languagead.Members of On WeChat, adtellsusersthat party aconservative Trudeau/Liberals willlegalize hard memes behind anetwork ofanti-LiberalFacebook pagespumpingoutpoliticalmessagingand Globe &Mail investigation findsthe Manning Centre wasthedrivingfinancialforce theirviews). content thatsupports election. (Canadianswithstrong politicalopinionsare engagingalmostexclusively with Digital Democracy Project negative contentgotCanadians’ findspartisan, attentionthis Proud tobeCanadian National examinescorporatebackingofgroups Observation likeCanadaProud and partisan fact checks, a new trend in political advertising that hurt news media’s trend news factchecks,anew thathurt inpoliticaladvertising partisan credibility. The Digital Democracy Project foundcampaignmessagesare beingdisguisedasnon- Justin Trudeau leave histeachingjobat West Point Grey Academy?” sentout apressConservatives release aboutthefakesexscandalstory, did asking,“Why questioning Trudeau aboutthenon-incidentafterOct. 7debate. sex scandal,prompting far-rightonlineplatforms True North andtheRebel tostart aboutfakeThe Buffalo Chronicle,news platform,publishesstory afake Trudeau was amajordrivingforce Canada’s electionlawscouldn’t abouta stopaviralfakestory Trudeau sexscandal;Reddit candidate National investigation Observer finds Twitter soldadsto Whitenationalistparty report from thefederalgovernment. suggestsotherwise Trudeau claimsCanadaisontargetto“meet andsurpass” 2030climatetargets,buta policyonthe Canadianoillobby’slawmakers implementedevery electionwishlist Study findscarbonemissionsfrom theenergysectorwouldrise by 60percentif Digital Democracy Project findspublicinterest in Brownface scandalfadedwithindays • left-leaning website. saysit is paidforbyConservatives, “CanadaFact Check,” andlinkstoanassociated paid forby (andclearlylabeled).Theother, theConservatives whichattacksthe two different Facebook pages. One pagewascalled“Election Fact Check” andwas Between Sept. 11andOct. 4,researchers found60“faux factcheck” adsfrom ”: Articles spouting ”: Articles Canada’s National ©2020|37 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • • • Election night: • • • • • • • • • Buzzfeed: deems ittobefalse. Facebook notifiesfederalgovernment offakeBuffalo after AFPfact-check Chronicle story The Liberal continuingto flaggedconcernsaboutcandidatesfrom theotherparties Party Buffalo Chronicle storiesdebunked: Trudeau sexscandal On Twitter andFacebook, about a peopleclaimedtheGlobe wassuppressing thestory magazine wereOther publishedinCanadianmediaoutletslikeFrank iterations ofthestory “Global Informer Iterations appeared ofBuffalo onother Chronicle story/rumors Facebook pageslikethe abouthisallegedsexualmisconduct. million tosuppress astory week claiming before, theypaidtopromote afalsestory Trudeau hadpaidmore than$2 aboutJustinfalse story Trudeau’s allegedlyscandalousbehaviorasacollegestudent. The In thefinaldaysbefore theelection(Oct 13-14), Buffalo Chronicle paidtopromote a McKenna’s tweets explodedwithhatesincethedayfederalcarbonpricingtookeffect. Social mediaanalysis from theUniversity of Toronto foundthatreplies toCatherine election wasadaylaterthanitactuallyis. Voters inNew Brunswick, Nova ScotiaandQuebec received robocalls tellingthemthe speech, according tointernaldocumentsobtainedby National Observer. Liberals letReddit offthehookwhenitcomestospreading disinformationandhate promoting the“Great anarticle Canadians, runs Replacement” conspiracytheory. White nationalistwebsite “eurocanadian,” affiliatedwiththeCouncilof European the abilityofChinesepeopleinCanadatomakeinformeddecisions. • • • • • • the website hasnoinformationonwhoisbehindthegroup.” was registered address, 10daysbefore thevideowasposted.Other thanaCalgary logo ofagroup called“CanadiansforCanada’s Future,” whosebare-bones website “The oilvideo,titled“Supporting Canadian,” the well-being ofevery endswith the The videohadmore across than5 million views YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter would have beenrequired toregister withElections Canada. denouncing pipelineprotesters —butstoppedpromoting them rightbefore it spenthalf amilliondollarsonvideos A group oilindustry backedby theAlberta scandal-went-viral-canadas-election-integrity-law-cant-stop https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/10/10/news/fake-justin-trudeau-sex- https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trudeau-sex-scandal-school/ election-scandal.html https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/10/09/anatomy-of-a-manufactured- ” Canada’s National ©2020|38 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media • automated telephonemessageurgingthemtoheadthepollson Tuesday, Oct. 22. Tuesday. Voters inQuebec, New Brunswick andNova Scotiareported receiving an A seriesofrobocalls Monday falselyinformedCanadianvoters thatelectiondayis Elections, whosemandate istoinvestigate andenforce therules. duringtheblackoutperiodshouldgotoOfficeofCommissionerCanada running according tospokeswomanNatasha Gauthier, notingthatcomplaintsaboutpotentialads engine adsonelectionday. Elections Canada“doesn’t evaluate incidentsinreal time,” onFacebook advertisements run todaydespiteablackout onpaidsocial-mediaorsearch- • Facebook postsdidnotappeartogainmuchtractiononline. had beenmoved to Tuesday and Wednesday ofthisweek ratherthantoday. The oftheLiberal,Bloc,supporters NDPandGreen tellingthemthatvoting parties, The misinformationwasalsospread on Facebook where anumberofpoststargeted Canada’s National ©2020|39 Observer
Digital Fractures. Disinformation, Democracy and the Media