Canada’s intelligence agency has raised concerns over potential foreign interference in the upcoming general election on April 28, warning that China and India are likely to attempt meddling, while Russia and Pakistan could also pose a threat.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) issued the statement on Monday, emphasizing that foreign state actors are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to influence democratic processes. The warning comes at a time when Canada’s diplomatic relations with both China and India remain strained.
Growing Concerns Over Foreign Interference
CSIS Deputy Director of Operations Vanessa Lloyd highlighted that China, in particular, is expected to leverage AI-driven tools to interfere in Canada’s democratic process. “The PRC (People’s Republic of China) is highly likely to use AI-enabled tools to attempt to interfere with Canada’s democratic process in this current election,” Lloyd stated at a press conference.
Past investigations have found that both China and India attempted to meddle in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections, though an official probe concluded in January that these efforts did not impact the outcomes.
Beyond election interference, tensions between Canada and China have escalated in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Beijing imposed tariffs on over $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural and food products in retaliation for Ottawa’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum last year. Additionally, Canada recently condemned China for executing four of its citizens on drug smuggling charges.
India’s Alleged Involvement and Other Threats
Lloyd also noted that India has both the intent and the capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes. Last year, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the head of mission, over allegations of involvement in a plot against Sikh separatists residing in the country.
The Indian diplomatic mission in Ottawa has yet to respond to the allegations.
Meanwhile, Russia and Pakistan remain potential threats, though CSIS did not provide specific details about their possible interference activities. Lloyd acknowledged that proving a direct link between foreign interference and election outcomes is difficult but warned that such actions could undermine public trust in Canada’s democratic institutions.
“It’s often very difficult to establish a direct link between foreign interference activities and election results. Nevertheless, threat activities can erode public trust in the integrity of Canada’s democratic processes and institutions,” she said.
With the general election approaching, Canada remains vigilant in monitoring and countering potential foreign interference, aiming to uphold the integrity of its democratic system.
