Countries around the world are grappling with how to identify and prevent a host of new threats to the integrity of their elections and democratic systems. Social media platforms and new data collection methods have been used by both foreign and domestic players to sow divisions between citizens and erode trust in our core institutions. Disinformation is often the tool of choice. With the next general election around the corner in Canada, is our policy framework up to the task of dealing with the deliberate spread of false information? Do our regulations and laws adequately capture new innovations in political advertising and campaigning, such as the use of bots, social media influencers and data analytics? What is the role of traditional media outlets? Experts weighed in on these questions during a panel discussion in Ottawa.
This event is part of a series of in-depth conversations on key policy issues that could — or should — form part of the debate in the federal election campaign in 2019, hosted by Policy Options, in partnership with the Max Bell School of Public Policy.
