Canadian AI Software Could Counter Russia’s Disinformation Campaign in Europe

A new artificial intelligence tool developed in Canada could provide Europe with a powerful weapon against Russian disinformation campaigns. The AI agent, named Cipher, has successfully demonstrated its ability to detect and analyze Russian disinformation targeting Canadian networks across the political spectrum.

Having completed its testing phase in English, the system’s developers are now training it to recognize similar narratives in Russian language content. Researchers aim to deploy the technology in Europe, particularly in countries at the frontlines of combating Russian operations designed to undermine Western democracies.

“What would usually take, for an analysis piece, maybe half a day to a day, was really being crunched down to a few hours, and was scarily accurate,” said Marcus Kolga, who runs the DisinfoWatch platform in Canada and was an early tester of the technology.

Cipher operates as a “human-in-the-loop” AI system, requiring user oversight while automating the detection process. This approach enables monitoring efforts to scale up significantly, helping analysts manage the overwhelming volume of disinformation produced by Russian operations.

During testing, the tool uncovered persistent Russian efforts to sway Canadian public opinion on Ukraine, with the clear objective of eroding support for one of Kyiv’s strongest allies.

The project began three years ago under the AI safety research program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). Brian McQuinn, an associate professor in international studies at the University of Regina, collaborated with Matthew Taylor, an associate professor in computing science at the University of Alberta, who led a five-person engineering team to develop the sophisticated software.

“We are able to track and show on a day-to-day basis where the Russian networks are investing their limited resources, what themes they are targeting day in, day out, and how they are changing over the weeks and over the months,” McQuinn explained. “It really shows you the extent to which they are responding to events almost in real time.”

The software goes beyond simply identifying disinformation sources—it maps their spread and analyzes trending themes, providing experts with detailed insights into how Russian operations evolve over time. This comprehensive approach allows researchers to understand tactical shifts in the information warfare landscape.

Russian disinformation typically follows a predictable path: state-controlled outlets like RT and Sputnik release deceptive narratives, which are then amplified by social media influencers before spreading across broader networks. Occasionally, these narratives penetrate mainstream news coverage, giving them additional legitimacy.

Kolga, who monitors various forms of foreign interference in Canada, notes that Russian campaigns demonstrate remarkable adaptability, exploiting geopolitical developments for maximum political impact. For example, when the U.S. attempted to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, Russian operations quickly pushed narratives portraying Western governments as imperialist regimes engaged in illegitimate regime changes.

Similarly, when former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation to become President Volodymyr Zelensky’s economic advisor, Kolga observed a surge in targeted attacks aiming to discredit her by reviving claims that her Ukrainian grandfather collaborated with Nazis during World War II—allegations her office has previously denied.

After identifying these campaigns, Kolga compiles analysis reports that aim to “inoculate” audiences against disinformation by presenting facts and historical context that counter Russian narratives.

The Cipher team is now working to enhance the system’s predictive capabilities, potentially allowing experts to anticipate Russian disinformation strategies before they fully develop. This “pre-bunking” approach could significantly limit the spread and impact of false narratives.

“You can actually start to predict the narratives that are going to come, and therefore you’re pre-bunking them, and in many ways that’s the most effective strategy,” McQuinn explained.

The researchers hope to pilot Cipher in the Baltic states and eventually Ukraine, supporting local efforts to combat disinformation. These regions face particularly intense Russian information operations due to their strategic importance and historical ties to Russia.

“For us to have this sort of a tool to help us defend against it is a small step, but it’s an important step in eventually building some resilience and inoculating Canadians against these information operations,” said Kolga, highlighting the technology’s potential long-term impact on democratic resilience.

As disinformation continues to present a significant threat to democratic processes worldwide, technologies like Cipher represent an important advancement in the digital defense toolkit for Western democracies facing sophisticated influence operations from hostile actors.