2021/12/01 by Nicole Jackson, Nicole J. Jackson
Computer Science · Social Sciences · #Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies #Global Security and Public Health #Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/00207020221076402
crossref issued 2021/12/01 · crossref published 2021/12/01 · crossref published-print 2021/12/01 · openalex publication_date 2021/12/01 · crossref published-online 2022/02/25 · crossref created 2022/02/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref deposited 2026/04/29 · crossref indexed 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
In recent years, governments have considered how to respond to “disinformation.” However, there is little academic literature on Canada’s response in the area of security and foreign policy. This paper addresses this gap by analyzing how and why Canadian government foreign and security actors have “securitized” foreign disinformation. It argues that, since 2014, they have increased awareness about disinformation and transformed it into a matter of “security” through rhetoric and discursive framing, as well as stated policy intentions and actions. This has occurred in response to perceived threats, but without coherent policy. The findings suggest that challenges are linked to persistent difficulties in defining and understanding disinformation. The result has been fragmented actions, some of which may legitimate actions that deviate from “normal political processes.” The implications are that definitional challenges need to be addressed, the role of security actors assessed, and a clearly articulated and holistic strategy drawn.