Ottawa Launches Research Institute on AI Security

The federal government has opened a research institute focused on studying the security risks posed by artificial intelligence.
“Spamouflage” is a tactic that uses networks of hijacked or fake social media accounts to spread propaganda. Global Affairs Canada (GAC), which detected the campaign in August 2023, confirmed the use of AI, including “deepfake” videos digitally altered by the technology, to target Canadian officials.
Lindsay Hundley, global threat intelligence lead for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, also highlighted that Chinese campaigns operate on a global scale and have targeted Canadian audiences as part of their efforts.
“China-origin operations have evolved significantly in recent years to target broader, more global audiences, including in languages other than Chinese,” she said while also testifying before the ethics committee. “These operations have continued to diversify their tactics, including targeting critics of the Chinese government, attempting to co-opt authentic individuals, and using AI-generated news readers in an attempt to make fictitious news outlets look more legitimate.”