Canada Warns of Likely Election Interference by China and India

The Canadian intelligence agency has warned there is a “highly likely” chance that China and India will try to interfere in the elections coming up on April 28. They discussed the risks of foreign interference, especially through artificial intelligence. On Monday, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) shared their concerns, saying that there is both “intent and capability” of these countries to influence democratic processes.

Vanessa Lloyd, a senior official with CSIS, has indicated that China will likely utilize AI tools to disrupt the election, and that India could potentially target Canadian Indian communities and political systems. These remarks come amid strained relations between Canada’s and both respective countries. Just last year, Canada expelled Indian diplomats over claims of their involvement in a plot against Sikh activists on Canadian soil, which India has labeled as “baseless.”

A government report released in January revealed that both China and India tried to meddle in Canada’s elections in 2019 and 2021. However, the report concluded that their attempts didn’t actually change the outcomes. It specifically accused India of spreading disinformation and possibly using secret funding to sway candidates, which New Delhi dismissed as “insinuations.” In addition to that, China has repeatedly denied any involvement in Canada’s political matters.