What's up with the internet?

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

Misinformation is being circulated on a widespread scale, creating major challenges for public health, democracy and even how we interact in our personal relationships. We're pulling back the curtain to reveal the forces behind the new age of digital dishonesty in Canada and sharing insights on how to navigate it. Season three kicks off in conversation with journalist, consultant and commentator Sue Gardner who has previously held executive roles at CBC and the Wikimedia Foundation.

In our season finale, we're tackling the question, what's up with the future of cybersecurity? We sit down with CIRA's own Jon Ferguson to share what future trends he sees in cybersecurity over the next few years, including AI, ransomware and quantum computing.Returning guest David Shipley (Beauceron Security) joins us to talk about the growing pressure on cybersecurity professionals, the risk of burnout, and the critical need for public education in implementing effective security measures. Our guests also sound off on deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation and explain why preparedness is crucial as digital threats become more sophisticated.As we wrap up this season, we leave you with a final thought from our first guest Bruce Schneier, to discuss where he thinks the future is headed.

We're picking up where we left off in our last episode to take a hard look at Canada's national security strategy for cybersecurity. Guest Aaron Shull, managing director and general counsel at the Centre for International Governance Innovation returns to discuss whether Canada is well equipped to deal with current and future online threats. Sami Khoury, senior cybersecurity official at the Communications Security Establishment Canada, shares insights about pre-ransomware notifications, threat alerts and public access to open-source tools. David Shipley, CEO of Beauceron Security, also returns his take on how Canada compares against its peers when it comes to cybersecurity.We also dissect the controversial Bill C-26 and its implications for Canada's cybersecurity landscape with guest Matt Malone, Waterloo University, and sit down with Kate Robertson from Citizen Lab to discuss Canada's involvement with the UN Cybercrime Treaty.

We're exploring the relationship between cybersecurity and national security—with a spotlight on recent cyber threats in Canada. We welcome guest Aaron Shull, Managing Director and General Counsel at CIGI, to share insight into Canada's election security, highlighting the resilience of our paper-backed ballot system. Next, we turn our attention to the increasingly prevalent cyber attacks on political campaigns and party infrastructures. We also delve into the risks associated with emerging AI technologies, emphasizing the urgent need for strategic governance to prevent their misuse.

You've seen it in the headlines—the ongoing crisis of cyberattacks threatening our hospitals, corporations and even law enforcement agencies. Sami Khoury from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) joins us to discuss how the rapid digital transformation triggered by the pandemic has opened new doors for hackers. Later in the episode, we're joined by award-winning journalist Joseph Cox (404 Media) to discuss the broader implications of data privacy in the digital age. Host Takara Small also sheds light on the shadowy, high stakes world of ransomware negotiations and the unexpected targets of these attacks—like libraries and zoos—that fall victim due to overlooked vulnerabilities. We close out the episode by sharing ways to improve your personal cybersecurity and recognize the shared duty we all have in safeguarding our digital identities.

How quickly can your digital footprint be upended by a single cybersecurity breach? Christine Schiefer, co-host of the "And That's Why We Drink" podcast sits down with us to talk all about her harrowing (and at times hilarious) hacking story. Christine Ménard from the Communications Security Establishment, joins the conversation to talk about the practical and proactive steps we can take to keep ourselves safe online. Later on in the episode, we recap data from CIRA members about their cybersecurity experiences and talk to tech journalist Shoshana Wodinsky for a closer look at the impacts of how much of our data is held and traded by companies and online platforms.

Host Takara Small is back for another season to explore the question: what’s up with cybercrime?  and how can we protect ourselves online?  We discuss cybersecurity’s history, evolution and how the alarming rise in cybercrime has impacted everything from our economy to our healthcare system—and even our elections. Guests include David Shipley (Beauceron Security) and security guru Bruce Schneier.

For the final episode we’ll take a look at what we’ve learned throughout the series and ask, what is needed to make things better? And what are the chances of that happening? Looking back to the issues outlined through the previous five episodes our guests return to offer some solutions.Canadian Minister Gudie Hutchings joins the conversation.

Having access to the internet doesn’t matter if you don’t feel safe using it. Online threats from trolls, viruses, hackers, or even that general sense of anxiety that comes from doom-scrolling are now the norm. There’s a long list of reasons that can make the internet a dangerous or unhealthy space. That can make users fearful of exploring the internet and taking advantage of all the ways it can benefit them. This segment will look at how Canadians of all ages can keep themselves safe and protected online featuring interviews from Helen Hayes of McGill University and Frances Haugen.

Being able to simply get online isn’t enough in our digitally-connected world. Many Canadians who aren’t netizens lack the basic skills to access vital online services and resources. If you’ve got a laptop and high-speed broadband in front of you but you don’t know how to use it, that is the same level of disconnection as no internet at all. Paula Canas from Tech Manitoba joins us to discuss how classes teaching basic internet skills can be life changing, while author and tech commentator Paris Marx is back to give his thoughts on how we can get better at identifying misinformation.

In Canada, the lack of competition among internet providers plays a major role in exacerbating the digital inequity (and the expensive mobile data plans) that Canadians have come to accept. This episode explores what this means for the average Canadian, with a dive into the regulations involved. Featuring guest interviews from tech critic Paris Marx (the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast) and internet activist Bryson Masse.

Canada is home to some of the most expensive internet plans in the world. With rising costs of living, what happens to those left behind? Hear perspectives from Joel Templeman (Internet Society Manitoba Chapter) and Ray Noyes (ACORN Canada).

What’s up with the digital divide? Host Takara Small interviews Canadians that don’t have reliable broadband and offers a glimpse on the impact it has on their lives. We also explore the barriers to getting everyone connected. Guests include Patrika McEvoy (Old Masset Village), Mark Buell (Connect Humanity) and Colleen McCormick (Coastal First Nations).