The report warns the spread of disinformation online poses an existential threat to the “Western democratic pluralism” of Canada and its allies. OTTAWA—The ease of spreading disinformation online coupled with the collapse of journalism’s traditional role has led to “total” information warfare, according to a shocking new report released by Canada’s spy agency. “Increases in data transmission capacity coupled with a shift toward programmatic advertising have resulted in a precipitous decrease in the ability of traditional journalism to mediate the quality of public information,” the report reads. The Communications Security Establishment, in their own report released last year, said it’s likely that outside groups will attempt to tip the scales in the 2019 federal election as well. But the CSIS report — the product of a daylong academic conference in Ottawa last year — makes clear the sheer scope of the problem, and the difficulties of totally combating influence campaigns.

Source: thestar February 22, 2018 15:33 UTC