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Media, public discouraged from questioning authority in 2019 federal program: Report


Published on 2025-01-10 20:20:40 - MSN
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  • Access to Information records show researchers were paid nearly $370,000 in 2019 to discourage the media and the public from questioning authority in "a fact-checking program" launched by then-Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould.

The article from MSN discusses a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) which highlighted that a federal program in 2019 aimed at countering disinformation inadvertently discouraged media and the public from questioning authority. The program, known as the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), was established to combat foreign interference in elections but ended up creating an environment where skepticism towards official narratives was viewed negatively. According to the report, this approach potentially stifled legitimate inquiry and debate, as it framed questioning of government or official information as potentially harmful or aligned with foreign disinformation efforts. The CSIS report suggests that such an atmosphere could undermine democratic processes by limiting the space for critical analysis and open discussion.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/politics/government/media-public-discouraged-from-questioning-authority-in-2019-federal-program-report/ar-BB1rfTWb ]