Senate report warns Russia is targeting Canada with disinformation
A Senate report warns that Russia is conducting sophisticated disinformation campaigns targeting Canada to advance its geopolitical goals and undermine Western democracies, particularly by justifying its war in Ukraine and weakening NATO unity. Senator Stan Kutcher emphasized that many Canadians are unaware of the threat and called for a coordinated national strategy to combat disinformation. The report recommends enhancing media literacy, supporting civil-society efforts, and collaborating with international allies like Finland and Ukraine to strengthen Canada's resilience.
- ▪The Senate committee on national security found that Russia is spreading disinformation in Canada to promote pro-Russian narratives and justify its war in Ukraine.
- ▪Witnesses testified that Russian disinformation has weakened Western responses to aggression and contributed to declining support for Ukraine.
- ▪Senator Stan Kutcher compared the current threat to Canada's 'modern Gouzenko moment,' referencing the 1945 Soviet spy scandal to underscore the urgency.
- ▪The report recommends that Canada adopt Finland’s model of media literacy education and increase funding for civil-society organizations combating disinformation.
- ▪Russia is using artificial intelligence and Western social media influencers to amplify disinformation and exploit political and social divisions in democracies.
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Open this photo in gallery:Senator Stan Kutcher, pictured in 2023, says many Canadians don’t realize that Russia is a hostile state and its use of disinformation is highly complex.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian PressShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountRussia is deploying disinformation and propaganda campaigns on Canadians to advance its geopolitical and military interests, and Ottawa is not doing enough to combat the problem, warned a Senate report released on Thursday. The Senate committee on national security studied the impact of Russia’s disinformation on Canada and found that Moscow is deliberately disseminating false information in attempts to push pro-Russian narratives to Western audiences, particularly to justify its war in Ukraine.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Globe and Mail.
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