Understanding the Use of Private Messaging Apps in Canada and Links to Disinformation

ABSTRACT

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world have been facing an increased spread of disinformation on social media by foreign and domestic actors. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges of online disinformation facing governments and societies globally, including Canada. Indeed, disinformation is increasingly being framed by supranational institutions and states as a threat to democracy, prompting legislative and policy interventions [1] . However, much of the scholarly work thus far on disinformation has focused on social media content that is publicly available and open to the wider public. This article, on the other hand, aims to shed light on disinformation encountered through private messaging platforms (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and so on).