Understanding how media and technology shape democratic life.
The Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy produces research, tools, and public analysis to strengthen the quality of Canada's information environment and democratic institutions.
In the News
Cited in
One hundred accounts are behind the majority of conspiracy theory content in Canada
Feb 2026Canadian Affairs'Absolutely no progress': Parliament criticized for inaction on online harms
Feb 2026The Globe and MailA blanket ban won't solve social media's ills – but it can be an effective temporary tool
Feb 2026Radio-Canada Les faits d'abordLa fin du PEQ, et un documentaire de propagande sur Melania Trump
Jan 2026Policy Research
Latest research from the Centre
Scoping AI Chatbots into a revised Online Harms Act: The Case for Immediate Action
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February 2026briefConspiratorial Claims and Institutional Distrust in Canada's Online Ecosystem
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February 2026briefNew study finds conspiracy theory beliefs amplified by a small number of highly active accounts
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February 2026Upcoming Events
Events & workshops
Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: AI and the Growing Economy of Fraud
conference · Global Centre for Pluralism
Attention: Govern or Be Governed
conference · Rialto Theatre, Montreal
Securing Canada's Digital Sovereignty: A new agenda takes shape
conference · O'Born Room, NAC, Ottawa
Media & Podcasts
In the media
Machines Like Us
A technology show about people, exploring breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Features interviews with entrepreneurs, lawmakers, and scholars discussing robotics, gene editing, brain implants, and transformative innovations.
Screen Time: The Battle for Reality
Examines conspiracy theories and misinformation that emerged during the pandemic. Explores how Canadians inhabit different realities through separate information bubbles and investigates paths toward common ground.
Big Tech
Conversations with leading thinkers examining technology's complex role -- neither purely savior nor destroyer -- in shaping contemporary society.
Latest Insights
Analysis and commentary
Conspiratorial Claims and Institutional Distrust in Canada's Online Ecosystem
A national study revealing that while conspiracy theory belief remains limited, a small number of highly active online accounts drive outsized visibility of conspiratorial content.
February 2026commentaryPower Shift: The Rise of Political Influencers in Canada
Research demonstrating that political influencers have become central figures in Canada's online political discourse, fundamentally altering information flow dynamics.
November 2025analysisPolling Shows That Canadians Support Action on Climate Information Integrity
Survey findings on Canadian attitudes toward climate disinformation and support for action on climate information integrity.
October 2025
Information Incidents
Active Threat Monitoring
Ripple Effects of the Charlie Kirk Assassination in the Canadian Information Ecosystem
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The incident sparked highly charged and polarized online conversations, disinformation, and calls for political violence in both American and Canadian information environments. Foreign state actors (Russia, China, Iran) exploited the tragedy. CDMRN tracked the incident across 8 updates and a final debrief.
AI-Generated Scams Mimicking Real News
Surge in AI-generated advertisements masquerading as legitimate Canadian news sources (particularly CBC and CTV), linked to cryptocurrency scams. Ads originated from multiple countries (Iceland, Czechia, India, US) targeting Canadian audiences with politically charged, divisive content during the 2025 federal election. Increased in volume, political nature, and sophistication over the election period.
Russian Funding of US and Canadian Political Influencers
The US Department of Justice indicted two Russian nationals on September 4, 2024, for funding Tenet Media — a network controlled by Canadian influencer Lauren Chen and her husband Liam Donovan. They allegedly accepted nearly $10 million USD from Russian state media outlet RT to spread Kremlin propaganda. The network posted over 2,000 videos on YouTube accumulating 16+ million views. CDMRN tracked across 8 updates and a final debrief.
The Media Ecosystem Observatory
Real-time monitoring of Canada's digital information environment
Explore live dashboards, digital trace data, incident tracking, and analytical tools built by the Centre's research team.