Combating Social Media Information Manipulation During Elections: Aengus Bridgman Speaks to CBC

In an era where misinformation can spread faster than fact-checking efforts, Canadian officials are taking proactive measures to safeguard electoral integrity. Political scientist Aengus Bridgman of McGill University recently shared insights on CBC about the complex challenges of combating information manipulation on social media platforms during election cycles.

Bridgman, whose research focuses on political communication and digital media, emphasized that Canada’s approach to information security has evolved significantly since 2019, when foreign interference concerns first gained prominence in national discourse. The federal government has established new protocols and partnerships with major tech companies to identify and mitigate potential threats.

“What we’re seeing is a much more sophisticated understanding of how misinformation operates in the Canadian context,” Bridgman explained. “Rather than broad, obvious foreign campaigns, the greater risk now comes from domestic actors who blend factual information with misleading narratives.”

According to Bridgman, Elections Canada has expanded its monitoring capabilities to detect early warning signs of coordinated inauthentic behavior across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and increasingly TikTok, which has become a significant political battleground for younger voters.

The challenge is particularly acute in Canada’s multicultural communities, where information often flows through encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and WeChat. These closed networks present unique challenges for researchers and officials attempting to track misinformation, as they operate outside traditional monitoring frameworks.

“Communities receiving news in languages other than English or French can be particularly vulnerable,” Bridgman noted. “We’ve documented instances where misleading content about electoral procedures or candidate positions spreads widely in these networks before any fact-checking mechanisms can engage.”

Social media companies have implemented various safeguards in response to government pressure. Facebook and Instagram now apply warning labels to content flagged by fact-checkers, while Twitter has introduced features to encourage users to read articles before sharing them. However, Bridgman argues these measures often fall short.

“Platform policies are reactive rather than preventative,” he said. “By the time content is flagged, the damage may already be done. Additionally, these companies operate on engagement-driven models that often reward controversial content, creating inherent tensions between business interests and information integrity.”

Recent polling data suggests Canadians are increasingly concerned about the impact of online misinformation. A survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found that 72 percent of respondents expressed worry about false information influencing their fellow citizens’ voting decisions, while 64 percent reported encountering what they believed was deliberately misleading political content online.

The federal government has responded with the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol, which creates a non-partisan mechanism for alerting the public about significant disinformation threats during election periods. The protocol brings together senior officials from national security agencies to assess and address serious incidents that could undermine electoral integrity.

Industry experts note that Canada’s approach differs from more aggressive regulatory frameworks implemented in the European Union under the Digital Services Act. Rather than imposing strict content moderation requirements, Canadian officials have focused on transparency, digital literacy, and establishing clear channels of communication with platform representatives.

“The Canadian model is more collaborative than punitive,” explained Bridgman. “But the question remains whether voluntary cooperation is sufficient given the scale and sophistication of today’s information threats.”

Media literacy initiatives have also expanded across educational institutions and community organizations. These programs aim to equip voters with the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate online sources and recognize potential manipulation tactics.

As Canada prepares for its next federal election, which must occur no later than October 2025, election officials are conducting simulated crisis exercises to test response protocols. These drills include scenarios ranging from foreign interference campaigns to domestic attempts to suppress voter turnout through misleading information.

Bridgman emphasized that while technological solutions are important, an informed and vigilant citizenry remains the strongest defense against information manipulation.

“The most effective safeguard isn’t algorithms or content policies—it’s citizens who approach online information with healthy skepticism and diverse news sources,” he concluded.