BC Rights Commissioner Launches Campaign to Combat Misinformation and Protect Human Rights

False and misleading information has become a major societal challenge, prompting British Columbia’s Human Rights Commissioner to launch a new awareness campaign. The initiative aims to educate the public about how misinformation and disinformation damage society and what individuals can do to prevent their spread.

Misinformation—false information shared unintentionally—and disinformation—false information deliberately shared to cause harm—both present significant threats to human rights and democratic institutions across the province.

“When misinformation spreads faster than truth, rights get trampled,” states the Commissioner’s campaign materials. The harmful effects extend beyond simple confusion, as misinformation often fuels discrimination and hate crimes by promoting stereotypes, biases, and conspiracy theories targeting specific communities.

The campaign highlights how misinformation undermines democratic processes by misleading voters and eroding trust in political leadership. The overwhelming volume of questionable information makes it increasingly difficult for citizens to identify reliable sources, leading to a general distrust in all information—including critical facts needed for informed decision-making.

In the Commissioner’s 2023 report “From Hate to Hope” and the 2024 report “Rights in Focus,” the office documented how misinformation contributes to discrimination and societal harm, particularly during periods of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign identifies several tactics used by creators of disinformation, including algorithmic targeting on social media, creating convincingly realistic fake content, and deliberately provoking strong emotional responses that increase the likelihood of sharing. Many disinformation campaigns also exploit correlation by falsely attributing causation to coincidental events.

To combat these challenges, the Commissioner has introduced the “STOP” method, a four-step approach to help individuals identify and prevent the spread of misinformation:

• Share (only) when you’re sure: Verify information before passing it along
• Track down the truth: Confirm claims across multiple reliable sources
• Outsmart the outrage: Recognize when emotional reactions might be clouding judgment
• Poke at the point of view: Consider who is sharing the information and who benefits

The initiative emphasizes that individuals have the power to make a difference through small actions. By stopping the spread of misinformation, people can protect their friends and family from manipulation, shield marginalized communities from discrimination and hate, and safeguard democratic institutions.

The Commissioner is also encouraging community involvement through a mini-grant program for projects that raise awareness about misinformation. Eligible activities include visual art, multimedia productions, written works, and community gatherings. Selected projects will be featured on the Commissioner’s website and social media channels.

“You are part of a bigger story,” the campaign reminds British Columbians. “When we take action to stop the spread of mis- and disinformation, we push back against manipulation and protect each other’s rights.”

The campaign website provides additional resources and will be regularly updated with new information about the connection between misinformation and human rights violations. More details about the community grant program are available on the Commissioner’s “Community Amplifiers” webpage.