Canada’s ability to counter the “urgent” threat of Russian disinformation is falling increasingly behind the rapidly growing spread of such malicious online activity, a brand new Senate committee report warns, calling for a whole-of-society response and extra government motion.
The report released Thursday by the Senate committee on national defence and security comes after a years-long study dating back to the previous Parliament, which left senators “convinced that Russia’s disinformation poses an urgent threat to Canada’s national security, democratic institutions and social cohesion.”
“Russia’s disinformation has been growing and evolving at a rapid pace,” the report says.
“The Government of Canada has been making efforts to deal with disinformation. Nevertheless, the extent of Russia’s disinformation exceeds Canada’s current capability to deal with it effectively.”
The report says the rise of generative artificial intelligence and the flexibility for disinformation to spread unregulated across social media have further enabled Canadians to be exposed to Russian false narratives.
Of particular concern is the spread of content aimed toward weakening support for Ukraine and NATO, in addition to disinformation targeting Canadian military and political figures. Polarization and violent extremism against Ukrainian and minority communities have grown in consequence, witnesses said.
“Canadians’ exposure to Russia’s disinformation is important,” the report concluded, with witnesses presenting data suggesting a majority of Canadians encounter pro-Kremlin messaging online.
Get breaking National news
Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox because it happens so you will not miss a trending story.
“Within the view of witnesses, Russia’s global disinformation efforts also affect Canada by destabilizing the liberal international order and undermining democracy.”
The report outlines 10 recommendations, including crafting a whole-of-government approach to deal with Russia’s disinformation that features a strategic plan and annual reports to Parliament.
Any national security strategy released between now and the following election must also address and description responses to Russian disinformation “which can be effective, comprehensive and coordinated.”
The committee also calls for the event and funding of a whole-of-society approach to addressing all disinformation, including from Russia, that involves provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments, together with community groups, civil society organizations and the private sector.
Other recommendations include enhanced public transparency on Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Canada, latest measures and financing for entities dedicated to addressing anti-Ukraine content, and an independent expert panel that will review Canada’s approach to addressing disinformation.
The report also urges Ottawa to “proceed to develop and implement strategies to make use of artificial intelligence-based tools to watch, detect, analyze and reply to foreign disinformation.”
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.