Information Trolls and Democracy: A Qualitative Examination of Disinformation Campaigns in Canada

Abstract

Online communication platforms have evolved into indispensable and powerful tools employed by a myriad of individuals, groups, businesses, agencies, and political parties to disseminate information. Through online communication tools, we can connect with friends and family, stay updated on the latest products and gadgets, converse with others, and maintain updated knowledge on local, national, and global events. This evolving technology can connect people through the rapid dissemination of information. Previous offline communication tools are still commonly used, but they cannot compete with the streamlined capabilities that online platforms possess to distribute information. Online tools, such as social media platforms, can be beneficial to bridging the geographical gaps that can hinder social cohesion, yet the same technology can be an accessory to social ABSTRACT This research explores disinformation delivered during the 2019 Canadian Federal election. This study explores the methods and techniques used by the perpetrators of disinformation campaigns in the context of Canadian elections. This research also examines whether the disinformation discovered during the election falls within criminal foreign interference. Critical discourse analysis is used to qualitatively analyze 26 articles published by a Northeastern U.S. based independent news website within the ten months leading up to the election. This research finds that the use of unnamed sources, hyperbolic statements to misrepresent facts, and strategies to de-legitimize reputable institutions were the most common tools used by the source to engage in a disinformation campaign targeting Canadian democracy. This research reveals evidence that raises questions about the potential involvement of foreign entities in the 2019 Canadian Federal election.