Experts Warn of AI Threats to Canada’s Upcoming Federal Election

Concerns have emerged regarding the potential use of artificial intelligence to undermine Canada’s next federal election, according to senior officials. During a parliamentary committee meeting, deputy minister of foreign affairs David Morrison and Nathalie Drouin, national security adviser to Prime Minister Mark Carney, warned that foreign adversaries may exploit this technology to disrupt the electoral process.

Morrison highlighted the rapid advancement of AI technologies, stating, “Look at how fast all this is going. I don’t know when the next election is going to be, but it’s a tool that all adversaries will use.” Drouin emphasized that the threats could arise from both foreign actors and individuals seeking to create chaos. “AI [proliferation] is exponential, so I think that as we go, we’re going to see more and more,” she said.

Both officials participated in a panel tasked with monitoring any foreign interference ahead of the 2025 general election. They acknowledged that while there were concerns about AI being used in the previous election, no such attempts were detected.

Amid discussions on potential solutions, Liberal MP Arielle Kayabaga raised the issue of requiring labels for AI-generated videos, citing the increasing difficulty of distinguishing real content from manipulated images. “I think AI is getting so good…you can’t actually tell what’s real and not real,” she stated. However, Morrison cautioned that labeling alone may not suffice, as adversaries are continually evolving their tactics. “This needs to be a whole-of-society effort,” he added.

In response to the growing concerns, Drouin explained that the government is providing cyber briefings for Members of Parliament (MPs) and training designed to help them recognize deepfake content. She noted some attempts at interference during the last election, including efforts by China to influence a Conservative candidate’s campaign and activities by Russia aimed at online disruption. Despite these incidents, Drouin asserted that none of the detected actions significantly threatened the integrity of the election outcome.

While Morrison and Drouin expressed confidence in the government’s ability to counter such threats, Conservative MP Michael Cooper challenged their conclusions regarding interference. He referred to the case of Joe Tay, a candidate who supports democracy in Hong Kong and has faced threats from Hong Kong authorities. Cooper claimed that Tay’s supporters received intimidation during the campaign and reported a drop in voter turnout in his riding.

Drouin assured that the government maintained regular communication with the Conservative Party and offered private security to Tay. Morrison added that while no direct involvement from the Chinese consulate was detected, discussions with the Chinese Embassy regarding online activities were conducted.

As concerns about foreign interference in Canadian elections continue to grow, attention has also turned to potential threats from the United States. Liberal MP Elisabeth Brière questioned whether interference could originate from southern borders. Drouin responded by stating that Canadian officials will remain vigilant regardless of the source. “Canada has expectations regarding all countries, including the United States, that there is … no damage to our domestic affairs including our elections,” she affirmed.

The upcoming election will require a coordinated effort from government officials, political parties, and the public to safeguard against the evolving threat of AI-assisted interference. As technology progresses, vigilance and preparedness will be crucial in maintaining the integrity of Canada’s democratic processes.