The Centre for Disinformation Studies (CDS) is a nonpartisan research and public outreach wing of the NATO Association of Canada, created in April 2019. The goal of the CDS is to facilitate engagement between academics, government, and the public on the topic of disinformation or ‘fake news’. Although disinformation has long been an aspect of human communication, new technologies and a changing international landscape have pushed the idea of disinformation into public awareness in unprecedented ways. The spread of disinformation in recent years has been facilitated by the proliferation of online social networks and digital information-sharing platforms. These new technologies have eroded public trust in conventional sources of information and have helped spread skepticism towards science, academia, and democratic institutions.

The Centre for Disinformation Studies has two main objectives. The first is to provide an interdisciplinary platform for scholars from across the country and beyond to share and discuss research relating to the study of disinformation. The second objective of the CDS is to help disseminate academic research on disinformation to the public in an accessible and engaging manner. By directly engaging the public and helping to bridge the gap between academic research and societal perceptions, the CDS aims to improve the public’s ability to engage critically with information spread through new digital technologies. The CDS also works to strengthen Canadians’ cultural resiliency towards misleading information or conspiracy theories by providing resources to help the public navigate an increasingly confusing information landscape.

Centre For Disinformation Studies

Swords into Bullhorns: Modern Russian Information Warfare Practices and their Impact on the Ongoing War in Ukraine

In this article Griffin Cornwall analyzes the establishment of Russia’s information warfare policies and how they have impacted planning and messaging surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Centre For Disinformation Studies Thomas Turmel

La législation française sur la désinformation, un exemple à suivre ?

En novembre 2018, l’Assemblé nationale française adoptait La loi contre la manipulation de l’information. La France suivait alors les traces de l’Allemagne en se dotant d’une loi sur la désinformation adaptée aux plateformes sociales du 21e siècle. En fait, la loi française qui a été adoptée était une mise à jour, une adaptation aux nouvelles réalités Read More…

Centre For Disinformation Studies

One Event, Two Headlines: Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

With the last episode of Israeli-Gaza violence seemingly behind us, Thomas Turmel examines how the narrative surrounding a violent incident in East Jerusalem was manipulated both by the Times of Israel and Al Jazeera to present a bias view of the events.

Centre For Disinformation Studies Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Neven Vincic

The Future of Warfare: Security Implications of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs)

What are emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) and how will they affect the future of warfare? In this article, Neven Vincic explores the concept of EDTs and their potential to revolutionize the international security environment and the nature of warfare in the coming decades.

Centre For Disinformation Studies

What Constitutes Fake News in Hong Kong

Between March and October of 2020, 17 countries passed new laws aimed at stifling the spread of online misinformation. Citing the increasingly contentious pandemic-related content as a primary justification, multiple governments and distinctly authoritarian regimes cracked down on critics and limited individual expression under the pretense of maintaining social stability. Hong Kong is keen to Read More…