<aside> 🗣 The Canadian Federal Government’s procedures to maintain a free and democratic process in the digital age. It intersects with electoral interference, foreign threats, and cybersecurity.

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Introduction

The Federal Government is responsible for ensuring that Canada remains a free and democratic society. Increased by the technological society we live in, there is a constant threat of foreign interference - from individuals or groups - in Canadian political affairs. This interference may be because actors want to influence Canadian politics, elections, and actors. It is dangerous politically as it violates the principle of sovereignty in a state and may disadvantage values of free and fair elections, democratic rights, and liberty. The Federal Government, through various bodies and agencies intertwined with one another, have created strategies in order to fight this political threat.

Cyber Electoral Interference

Cyber Interference is the usage of digital technology in order to manipulate information and influence how citizens vote and participate in the process of elections. Actors who conduct this activity may be state funded, experienced hackers with criminal charges, driven by religious or moral aims aka “hacktivists”, and/or thrill-seekers.

Potential goals can include:

  1. Impact the ability to engage in civil society and discussion
  2. Influence policymaking decisions
  3. Hurt the reputation and relationships of politicians and governments
  4. Undermine values of liberty, human rights, freedom of speech, etc.
  5. Take advantage of existing political tension

Citizen Perception of Misinformation in the Canadian Electoral Process is largely digital or technologically-based. As the Mis- and Disinformation during the 2021 Canadian Federal Election Report shows.

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Digital Interference can come in the form of: