Facebook Election Integrity Announcement

Remarks for the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions.

Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, October 19, 2017.

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

Good morning. I want to begin today by acknowledging the original inhabitants and caretakers of this land. I’m thankful for the opportunity to gather here on the traditional territory of the Algonquin people.

Thank you for the kind introduction, Kevin. It’s wonderful to be here today to speak about the importance of cyber hygiene and the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts to protect Canada’s democratic process from cyber threats.

In Canada we are fortunate to have a robust democracy. We have a vibrant civil society, independent media, fair and inclusive elections and strong public institutions. Canadians are rightly proud of our democracy. And we must continue to take steps to ensure that we protect and uphold the democratic values we hold dear.

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the 2015 federal election. A lot has changed since then in the world of technology and digital platforms. As we look forward to 2019, it’s important to consider what we can do to reinforce and protect our strong democratic institutions. And I believe that together, we can work to strengthen our resiliency as critically engaged citizens.

Building our citizen literacy and combating cyber threats against our democratic process are at the heart of my work as Minister of Democratic Institutions.

This past June, I was pleased to join Communications Security Establishment Chief Greta Bossenmaier in announcing the first ever threat assessment of Canada’s democratic process. The report concluded that cyber threat activity against the democratic process is increasing around the world and that Canada is not immune. The CSE also concluded that it is “highly probable” that cyber threat activity will grow in quantity and sophistication in Canada. While there has been no evidence nation-states were involved in cyber-activity in the last federal vote, the report noted that this could change in 2019. And we have seen high profile cases over the past year in countries like the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Since the release of this report, the CSE has been working with political parties and the provinces and territories to provide information on how they can protect themselves from cyber-attack.

The Government of Canada has also launched Get Cyber Safe, a national public awareness campaign created to educate Canadians about internet security and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online.

I also want to mention that when it comes to foreign influence, there are tough laws in place today that apply to third party spending and election activity. It is illegal for foreign entities to try and influence the outcome of an election. Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents can give money to political parties or candidates at the federal level and this is set at a reasonable limit of $1,550. Penalties for breaking these rules can include a fine of up to $50,000, up to five years in prison, or both. I also have a mandate to review the limits on the amounts political parties and third parties spend during elections, and propose measures to ensure that spending between elections is subject to reasonable limits as well.

As Minister of Democratic Institutions, I am also responsible for reviewing the Canada Elections Act to ensure we are prepared for 2019 and beyond. In this work, I am currently reviewing measures that would ensure fairness and electoral integrity as technologies continue to evolve.

Cyber security is a shared responsibility – one in which Canadians, their governments, the private sector, the media and online platforms all play a role. We must continue to ask ourselves what we can do to ensure all citizens have the tools, skills and opportunities they need to fully participate in democratic life in a meaningful way.

Participation comes in many forms. Citizens can volunteer to make their communities better. They can interact with elected officials on issues they care about.

Canadians know these efforts are essential. And they know it takes respect, dedication, hard work and cooperation to strengthen and protect our system of governance.

A democracy is only as strong as the citizens who form it.

In this effort, digital tools can actually help unite Canadians. Social media can help us debate public policy not only in coffee shops or at the dinner table but with family and friends thousands of kilometres away.

It has never been easier to get engaged than it is today. Digital technologies empower us by offering us multiple ways to connect.

However, as we all know, the same digital technologies can be used toward some not so good ends, such as the spread of misinformation online, injected into the public discussion by those who masquerade as legitimate media sources or individuals.

A well-disguised fake news or disinformation campaign can erode the public’s faith in the reliability of traditional media sources. It can distort the public’s understanding of major issues.

We also know that the use of strategically developed algorithms play a role in influencing the information we have access to, and the media we consume. This has resulted in what is known as the “filter bubble.” A filter bubble is created when the algorithms of a search engine or online platform selectively choose results based on information about the user, such as past click behaviour and search history. The results shown then reflect one’s own tastes, values and beliefs, creating an echo chamber of similar perspectives.

Political activist Eli Pariser made an excellent point when he said that “it's easier than ever to hear only what you want to hear. That doesn't make a good citizen.”

This, I believe, is one of our greatest challenges in the digital age.

Not being exposed to different points of views significantly limits our ability to be critically engaged citizens. When our world view is not broadened, let alone challenged, we are inhibited from participating in our democratic life in an informed and meaningful way. This can ultimately harm democracy and is precisely why conversations like the one we are having today are essential.

Social media platforms play a direct role in how Canadians consume information and have significant influence when it comes to shaping the public discourse. They have become the new arbiters of information, and have an important responsibility to facilitate respectful and informed public discourse. Just like government and private corporations have a public responsibility to contribute to healthy democracy, social media platforms must begin to view themselves as actors in shaping the democratic discourse and protecting our democracy from those who would seek to harm it.

The issue of foreign influence and the spread of misinformation is not a new phenomenon. But the digital age has provided malicious actors with more ways than ever before to pursue their objectives in a rapid and constantly evolving manner. And in that respect I think it is important for social media platforms to think critically about their current practices and how they can create spaces for informed public dialogue and the information we consume.

I am pleased to see Facebook and MediaSmarts taking a step in the right direction today in addressing the challenges of the digital era and the continued protection of our democratic process. But I also want to reiterate that this is a conversation that does not stop here. There is much more to be done, and it is up to all of us to work together to ensure that we continue to be resilient in the face of cyber threats against our democracy.

I want to thank Facebook for inviting me to be here today to participate in this important conversation. And I encourage all Canadians and online platforms to continue to think critically about the steps we can take to collectively build a more robust culture of citizen literacy here in Canada.

Thank you.