A recent survey conducted by Elections Canada revealed that a significant number of Canadians believe that various forms of electoral interference could have an impact on the outcome of the next federal election. The survey, which was delivered to the agency in April and first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, asked 2,501 Canadians for their opinions on this matter.
According to the survey results, 80 percent of respondents believed that the spread of false information online could have a moderate or severe impact on the outcome of the federal election. Additionally, 69 percent expressed concerns about foreign countries or groups using social media and other means to influence Canadian political opinions.
The report specifically highlighted WeChat as a platform presenting “enduring challenges” due to its potential for spreading false information. It noted that WeChat provides an opportunity for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to exert control and influence over overseas Chinese communities. The app is widely used by members of these communities to communicate with family and friends in China but also facilitates Beijing’s surveillance, repression, and influence abroad.
Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault confirmed that Elections Canada has been monitoring WeChat since 2019. He also mentioned that during the last election, a team consisting of 27 individuals monitored content across various platforms in different languages including Chinese, Cantonese, Punjabi, and Russian. For future elections, Perrault stated that this team will be expanded to include 41 personnel dedicated to monitoring online conversations.
Perrault emphasized how social media plays an increasingly significant role in Canada’s electoral process and acknowledged its growing impact on public opinion.
The survey also revealed concerns among Canadians regarding foreign money being used to influence Canadian politics (68 percent) as well as worries about foreign hacking targeting electoral systems (64 percent).
These findings highlight growing apprehensions among Canadians about potential interference in their democratic processes through various means such as false information dissemination online or external influences via social media platforms like WeChat.
