Russian Disinformation Poses ‘Urgent’ Threat to Canada, Senate Report Warns

Canada’s efforts to counter Russian disinformation are falling behind the rapidly growing threat, according to a new Senate committee report that calls for comprehensive action against what it describes as an “urgent” national security risk.

The report, released Thursday by the Senate committee on national defence and security, concludes a years-long study that began in the previous Parliament. It warns that Russian disinformation campaigns have evolved faster than Canada’s ability to combat them, posing significant threats to national security, democratic institutions, and social cohesion.

“Russia’s disinformation has been growing and evolving at a rapid pace,” the report states. “The extent of Russia’s disinformation exceeds Canada’s current capacity to address it effectively.”

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence and the unchecked spread of false information across social media platforms have amplified the problem, allowing Russian disinformation to reach more Canadians than ever before. Data presented to the committee suggested that a majority of Canadians are exposed to pro-Kremlin messaging online.

Of particular concern is content designed to undermine Canadian support for Ukraine and NATO. The committee found that disinformation campaigns have specifically targeted Canadian military and political figures, contributing to increased polarization and violent extremism against Ukrainian and minority communities.

“In the view of witnesses, Russia’s global disinformation efforts also affect Canada by destabilizing the liberal international order and undermining democracy,” the report notes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously addressed this issue, stating that Russian disinformation and misinformation campaigns have influenced far-right groups to withdraw support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.

The Senate committee has outlined ten recommendations to address the growing threat. Central to these is the development of a whole-of-government approach with a strategic plan and annual reports to Parliament. The committee stressed that any national security strategy released before the next election must include “effective, comprehensive and coordinated” responses to Russian disinformation.

Beyond government action, the report calls for a broader whole-of-society response involving multiple levels of government—provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous—alongside community groups, civil society organizations, and private sector companies. This coordinated approach would aim to combat not just Russian disinformation but all forms of false information campaigns targeting Canadians.

Additional recommendations include greater public transparency about Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Canada, new measures and funding for organizations dedicated to countering anti-Ukraine content, and the establishment of an independent expert panel to review Canada’s approach to addressing disinformation.

The committee also urged the government to “continue to develop and implement strategies to use artificial intelligence-based tools to monitor, detect, analyze and respond to foreign disinformation,” recognizing that the same technological advances that have enabled the spread of disinformation could also be harnessed to combat it.

The findings come at a critical time when democracies worldwide are grappling with sophisticated disinformation campaigns that exploit social and political divisions. The report emphasizes that Russia’s efforts extend beyond influencing public opinion on specific issues like Ukraine, and aim to undermine trust in democratic institutions more broadly.

Security experts have long warned that Canada’s position as a NATO member and strong supporter of Ukraine makes it a prime target for Russian influence operations. The committee’s recommendations reflect growing recognition that countering disinformation requires not just government intervention but a coordinated response across Canadian society.