Hello, and welcome back.
Every day, each of us makes countless decisions about information.
We read headlines.
Watch videos.
Scroll through social media.
Share messages.
Comment on posts.
Forward articles to friends and family.
These actions may seem small.
Collectively, they shape the information environment we all share.
That is why everyone—not just governments, journalists, or technology companies—has a role to play.
Let’s begin with two terms that are often confused.
The first is misinformation.
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information shared without the intention to deceive.
Someone may genuinely believe it is true and pass it along in good faith.
The second is disinformation.
Disinformation is false information that is deliberately created, manipulated, or shared to mislead others.
Its purpose may be to influence public opinion, deepen social divisions, undermine trust in institutions, or create confusion.
The difference is simple.
Misinformation spreads by mistake.
Disinformation spreads by design.
Of course, we cannot always know who created a piece of information or what their intentions were.
But we can always make thoughtful decisions before sharing it.
Before reposting something online, consider asking yourself a few questions.
Where did this information come from?
Is the source credible?
Has it been confirmed by other reliable sources?
Could important context be missing?
Taking just a moment to verify the facts can help prevent false or misleading information from spreading further.
Freedom of expression is one of Canada’s fundamental freedoms.
But freedom also carries responsibility.
Every post.
Every comment.
Every share.
Every conversation.
Each one contributes to the information environment we all help create.
Democratic resilience depends not only on strong institutions.
It also depends on informed citizens.
Critical thinking, responsible communication, and respect for evidence help strengthen public trust and support a healthier democratic society.
So remember:
Every one of us is both a consumer of information and a contributor to it.
The choices we make every day help shape the kind of information environment—and the kind of democracy—we leave for future generations.
In our next episode, we’ll explore another important question.
Why do democracies need national security agencies?
Thank you for watching.
Together, let’s safeguard Canada.
This series is intended for public education. It draws upon publicly available information from Canadian legislation, government publications, public inquiries, and other open sources. It does not represent the views of any government institution.