Combatting Foreign Election Interference: Canada's Electoral Ecosystem Approach to Disinformation and Cyber Threats

Abstract

Foreign election interference presents a significant threat to electoral fairness, democratic legitimacy, and public confidence in elections. This article argues for an “electoral ecosystem” approach to combatting the threat of foreign intervention in elections. Under an electoral ecosystem approach, the electoral system is viewed as an interconnected network of institutions, processes, and actors, all of which must coordinate together to ensure electoral effectiveness and legitimacy. An electoral ecosystem is comprised of multiple institutions and actors, including governments, political parties, voters, third parties, online platforms, and electoral management bodies. Given the interdependence and interconnected nature of an electoral system, there are multiple points of vulnerability that must be defended. An electoral ecosystem approach does not depend on any one single line of defense but instead relies on a multiplicity of strategies that protect the institutions and individuals that comprise the ecosystem. To further explore the electoral ecosystem approach, this article focuses on Canada's response to foreign interference in elections. The ecosystem approach consists of three principal strategies. The first strategy involves a set of new campaign finance regulations which directly prevents the influence of foreign individuals and groups on the election. The second strategy consists of new measures to reduce disinformation and to lessen its distorting impact on democratic discourse. To the extent that foreign election interference takes place through social media, efforts to reduce disinformation will also reduce the impact of foreign interference. The third strategy involves strengthening Canadian cybersecurity. A number of steps have been taken recently, including the coordination of Canada's security agencies and the adoption of new measures to prevent computer hacking and privacy intrusions. These three strategies, and the multiple measures within each, provide protection across the electoral ecosystem.