In this episode, host Dustyn Lanz is joined by Dr. Aengus Bridgman, one of Canada’s leading experts on misinformation and the politics of digital media. Aengus is Director of the Media Ecosystem Observatory and an Assistant Professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University. The conversation delves into the troubling intersection of misinformation, politics, and the rise of deepfake crypto scams during the 2025 Canadian federal elections. Aengus highlights the pervasive use of manipulated images of Canadian politicians in ads across social media platforms, emphasizing the scale of deception and the financial exploitation of voters. He critiques the current state of the information ecosystem, pointing out the failures in platform regulation and governance that allow such practices to thrive.

➡️ Check out ⁠ElectionTipline.ca⁠ for the latest tools & resources on disinformation incidents in the Canadian election.

Takeaways

• The use of manipulated images in political ads is rampant.
• Crypto scams are exploiting Canada’s electoral process.
• There is a significant financial incentive behind misinformation.
• The current information ecosystem is deeply flawed.
• Platform regulation is inadequate to combat misinformation.
• Social media platforms are scaling back data access.
• The governance of online platforms is a mess.
• Voters are being misled by deceptive advertising.
• The impact of misinformation on elections is profound.
• There is a need for better oversight of digital advertising.