The Decibel The changing face of election interference
Apr 20, 2025
Aengus Bridgman is the Director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory at McGill University, specializing in information manipulation. Nina Jankowicz, co-founder of the American Sunlight Project, is a disinformation expert with government experience. Together, they discuss the mounting risks of foreign interference in elections, the effects of social media on public trust, and the dangers posed by AI and deepfake technology. They emphasize the importance of critical thinking and promoting local, authentic information to preserve democratic integrity.
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No Clear Foreign Interference Detected
- So far, no definitive foreign interference tied to political outcomes in Canada's election has been observed.
- AI-generated content from outside Canada has been amplified heavily, raising concerns about influence and origin.
Russian-funded U.S. Protest Success
- Russian agents funded a U.S. protest group which escalated to real-world anti-Trump protests.
- This shows foreign interference can sometimes mobilize genuine political actions, not only distort information online.
Disinformation Erodes Trust Systemically
- Thousands of personal stories link online disinformation to shaping worldviews and eroding trust.
- Declining trust in traditional media and rising social media news consumption are key patterns influencing information trust.