Aengus Bridgman on the Rise of Deepfake Scams and Political Disinformation in Canada鈥檚 Election | The Guardian
April 18, 2025 | In an interview with The Guardian, Media Ecosystem Observatory Executive Director Aengus Bridgman warned of a dramatic surge in fake political content on social media as Canadians prepare to vote in the federal election. Bridgman explains that, despite Meta鈥檚 ban on Canadian news sharing, more than half of Canadians still rely on Facebook for political information鈥攏ow increasingly shaped by fake headlines, fraudulent ads, and deepfake videos. His research reveals that many impersonate trusted news brands and political figures, like Mark Carney, to promote scams and misinformation. Bridgman argues that without access to reliable information, voters become more vulnerable to deception, and calls on platforms like Meta to take stronger, more consistent action to curb this growing threat to electoral integrity.
