What's up with the internet?

Charting a path forward through the misinformation crisis

Feeling overwhelmed by the flood of misinformation and disinformation online? You're not alone—and more importantly, you're not powerless. In our season three finale, we discuss best practices for fighting back to correct misinformation online and the best approaches to navigating our complex information environment.Joining the conversation are returning guests Canadian author and legal professor Timothy Caulfield and Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts. We close the season with insights from CIRA President and CEO, Byron Holland, who suggests practical tips that anyone can take when browsing the internet.

Defending democracy: institutional responses to online misinformation

From fake news outlets to AI-trained propaganda, hostile actors are sowing division and distrust. In this episode, we explore how foreign interference and AI-driven disinformation are threatening trust in institutions including schools, our health services and media. We unpack insights from Canada’s recent public inquiry, examine why our country is a prime target and look at global strategies for digital resilience. We're joined by journalist and tech commentator Sue Gardner, foreign disinformation manipulation expert and fellow at Centre for International Governance Innovation, Halyna Padalko and Helen Hayes, a senior fellow at the Center for Media Technology and Democracy at McGill University. 

The fact-checking toolkit to navigating misinformation

Can you still spot what's real online? An alarming 43% of Canadians report it's becoming harder to distinguish between true and false information, while 38% admit falling for false news multiple times monthly. How can we protect ourselves against fake news? To share practical tips you can use, we're joined by Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, who shares a four-step verification process for vetting online information.Resources: www.mediasmarts.ca/fact-checkerhttps://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/news/2025/03/detecting-and-reporting-disinformation.htmlhttps://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/how-identify-misinformation-disinformation-and-malinformation-itsap00300

The human factor behind misinformation

Have you ever wondered why smart, rational people believe things that aren't true? This episode explores why humans are vulnerable to misinformation and looks into the psychological factors that make us believe misinformation. Canadian author and legal professor Timothy Caulfield is back to discuss why so many of us vulnerable to believing fake news and the power of the pause, when it comes to your scrolling habits. We later welcome guest Michael Kropveld, Founder and Executive Director of Info-Secte / Info-Cult, who has decades of experience in researching and assisting cults. Michael shares in-depth insights on human vulnerabilities and how to respond.Visit https://www.infosecte.org/ for more resources to safeguard yourself against misinformation.

The anatomy of deception

This week, we're doing a deep dive into the modern misinformation crisis. In a culture where "rage bait" is king, learn how algorithms amplify rage, fear and extreme positions—along with tips on how to protect yourself from falling for it. Guests include Kara Brisson-Boivin, Director of Research at Mediasmarts, Canada's Centre for Digital Media Literacy, along with professor and author Timothy Caulfield.