Why False Claims Feel True: Understanding Canada’s Information Problem
Misinformation doesn’t spread because Canadians are stupid. It spreads because the conditions that make false claims emotionally satisfying have been systematically cultivated. Our latest working paper examines this phenomenon and what citizens can do about it.
The research is clear: people accept false claims not because they lack intelligence, but because those claims align with emotional needs that have been deliberately amplified. Fear, anger, tribal loyalty, the desire for simple explanations to complex problems — these are normal human responses that have been weaponized by sophisticated information operations.
This isn’t a partisan issue. Both left and right fall victim to coordinated misinformation campaigns. The problem is structural: our governance system has created information vacuums that bad actors fill with convenient lies. When institutions lose credibility, people seek alternative explanations, and not all of those alternatives serve democratic interests.
The paper maps specific governance failures that make populations vulnerable: lack of transparency, unaccountable decision-making, and the gap between what politicians promise and what they deliver. When citizens can’t trust official information, they become susceptible to unofficial information — regardless of its accuracy.
But understanding how the fog machine works is the first step to defending against it. When you know the mechanics of information manipulation, you can protect yourself and your community. Active citizenship starts with clear thinking, and clear thinking starts with recognizing when someone is trying to cloud your judgment.
