Statement of Canadian Democratic Principles

Preamble

The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions found that “…foreign interference will never be completely eradicated, and it will always be necessary to be vigilant and fight against it. Democracies around the world are under attack from all sides, and the technological resources available to malicious actors are multiplying. All of us who live in Canada must confront these challenges, together.”

Additionally, reports by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Communications Security Establishment of Canada note that the threats targeting Canada’s democratic institutions including AI-enabled cyber threats, and foreign influenced activities will continue to grow in scale as AI technology enabling synthetic disinformation becomes increasingly available.

Defending Canada’s general elections against interference is critical to maintaining the legitimacy, credibility, and trustworthiness of Canada’s democratic processes, and this requires a united and sustained effort from government, the private sector (including digital media platforms and tech industry), civil society, and citizens.

Political actors including candidates, elected officials, and political parties are also crucial players in Canada’s democratic life. As they undertake their democratic duties, they have the ability to shape public discourse and influence voter perceptions, which can contribute to strengthening democratic resilience.

In 2019, Canada took concrete action to defend Canadian democracy by announcing the Plan to Protect Democracy, which includes measures to strengthen our electoral system against cyber and other threats. Elements of the Plan underwent internal and/or independent assessments, which confirmed the Plan’s utility and relevance, in 2021.

Measures outlined in the Plan have been implemented, and key elements are being improved and renewed. The Government of Canada continues to act through this Plan and these efforts will continue to address the threats to Canada’s democratic institutions and help to keep our democracy strong.

The best defence against threats to democracy remains an engaged and informed public that is able to recognize online deceptive practices, identify disinformation, and be less susceptible to online manipulation. Yet as more Canadians turn to online sources for information, digital platforms and tech companies play a crucial role in promoting a healthy and resilient democracy.

Existing international declarations and agreements, like the Munich Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections, the Global Declaration on Information Integrity Online, the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity, and the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Information Integrity demonstrate broad commitment to principles that support information integrity, particularly during election periods.

Yet more can be done.

The Government of Canada recognizes its respective responsibilities to help safeguard Canada’s federal general elections and commits to:

Providing resources to citizens and those living in Canada to help them be aware about the threat of disinformation and know how to identify credible sources of information.
Enhancing existing measures to ensure government action to combat disinformation and foreign interference is aligned with the rapidly evolving changes in the information ecosystem.
Ensuring government communications are clear, accurate, and easily accessible to the public.
Continued outreach to digital media platforms and tech companies to identify and mitigate the spread of false information, including by sharing information and best practices, particularly during election periods.

The Government also calls on all of society to take action to protect the democratic principles of integrity, transparency, authenticity, and accountability, in particular by following the measures outlined below.

Citizens and those living in Canada

Citizens and those living in Canada play a crucial role in upholding information integrity by actively contributing to the information ecosystem in a responsible and informed manner. Citizens and those living in Canada can do their part by:

Becoming civically engaged and building your knowledge about the electoral process, candidates, and issues.
Reporting suspicious activities or irregularities that you notice during elections, for example, any potential violations of the Canada Elections Act.
Checking the credibility of sources before sharing information online by using fact-checking websites, like AFP-Canada, MediaSmarts fact search, Les Décrypteurs (only in French) and Snopes.
Critically evaluating online content, learning about misinformation and disinformation and the threat they pose to democracy, and drawing on resources such as the Protecting Democracy Toolkits, available in 11 languages, to resist disinformation and foreign interference.

Civil society

Civil society – including academia, media, advocacy groups, community organizations – plays a critical role in helping safeguard the integrity of the information ecosystem and contributing to ensuring elections remain a true reflection of citizens’ will. Civil society can do this by:

Contributing to media literacy and public awareness by developing and sharing tools that citizens can use to continue developing their critical thinking, and identifying sources of disinformation and foreign interference.
Helping counter disinformation by amplifying trusted sources of information and exposing disinformation networks.
Calling for ethical reporting that emphasizes accuracy and impartiality.
Building networks with various sectors of society, such as industry, academia, electoral bodies, to maximize the outreach of initiatives that support information integrity.

Digital media platforms and tech companies

Digital media platforms and tech companies enable citizens to access information, engage in discussions and form their opinions. Digital media platforms and tech companies can contribute to upholding the integrity of public discourse during election periods by:

Establishing and communicating clear policies regarding content moderation, data privacy, and user behaviour.
Supporting digital literacy by providing tools and resources to help users critically evaluate the information they encounter online.
Creating easy-to-use feedback mechanisms for users to report disinformation and other harmful content, and ensuring timely responses and actions based on user reports.
Collaborating with independent fact-checking organizations to verify the accuracy of information, promoting verified information, and having mechanisms in place to address inauthentic content.
Ensuring there are clear community standards to protect freedom of speech and expression while safeguarding democratic discourse.