This assessment informs Canadians of global trends in cyber threat activity against democratic processes and evaluates the threats in a Canadian context.

"The Communications Security Establishment works closely with our domestic and international partners to assess and respond to foreign threats against Canada’s electoral process.  This latest assessment of threats to democratic processes, together with our ongoing cybersecurity advice and services, helps raise awareness and bolster the security of Canada’s federal election."

‑ Shelly Bruce, Chief, Communications Security Establishment

"At CSE’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security we recognize the importance of safeguarding democracy in Canada.  While we continue to do our part for cyber security, no single organization or individual can address this problem alone.  It is our hope that this assessment, along with our advice and guidance publications such as the online guide for voters, will give Canadians the practical tools they need to do their part to increase cyber security in Canada."

‑ Scott Jones, Head, Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

• CSE assesses that relative to other countries, Canada remains a lower-priority target for state-sponsored cyber threat activity against democratic processes. However, it is very likely that Canadian voters will experience some form of foreign cyber interference ahead of, and during, the next federal election.

• After increasing between 2015 to 2017, the proportion of democratic processes targeted by cyber threat actors has remained relatively stable since 2017. Most of this threat activity can be attributed to state-sponsored threat actors in pursuit of strategic political, economic, and geopolitical objectives.

• Between 2015 and 2020, cyber threat activity was directed at voters more often than against political parties and elections. This activity included online foreign influence activity, such as through social media, as well as traditional cyber threat activities.

• CSE assesses that the changes made to democratic processes around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as moving parts of the democratic process online or using new technology in the voting process, have had limited impacts on observed cyber threat activity against elections. However, threat actors have harnessed and amplified falsehoods relating to the pandemic to decrease confidence in elections.

• Canada’s federal elections are paper based, and Elections Canada has numerous legal, procedural, and information technology (IT) measures in place that provide robust protections against attempts to covertly interfere with election results.

Associated links

• Cyber threats to Canada's democratic process 2021
• Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
• Fact Sheet for Canadian Voters: Online Influence Activities
• Fact sheet for Canadian political campaigns: Protect yourself online
• Get Cyber Safe

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For more information (media only), please contact:

Media Relations
Communications Security Establishment
media@cse-cst.gc.ca