New poll finds that half of Canadians are concerned about generative artificial intelligence and the spread of misinformation
July 10 2024 - 8:00AM
A new poll commissioned by CIRA suggests that generative artificial
intelligence (AI) and the spread of misinformation are top-of-mind
for many internet users across the country. These results arrive
months ahead of a U.S. presidential election and a Canadian
election next year—a critical time for people to know what’s true
online.
The annual survey found that Canadians’ concerns over AI
outweigh their excitement for the tools. Half (51 per cent) say
they’re concerned about the technology, while only one-in-five (17
per cent) say they’re excited about the development of AI. Among
those concerned, most cite its contribution to the spread of fake
images or videos (69 per cent), mis/disinformation (67 per cent)
and insufficient regulations/controls on its use (65 per cent).
“We’re at a pivotal moment in technology, and it’s clear that
Canadians are feeling uneasy about the future of AI,” says CIRA
president and CEO, Byron Holland. “AI advancements are unfolding as
Canadians lead up to a national election next fall. Over the next
year, it will be crucial for Canadians to practice extra vigilance
when interacting with content, to identify AI-generated
misinformation and discern fact from fiction online.”
The spread of fake images and videos is also making an impact on
Canadians’ online experiences. Two-in-ten Canadians say they have
encountered deepfakes online in the past year and one quarter don’t
know whether they have. Only half (51 per cent) of Canadians are
confident in their ability to detect fraud and scams online—a drop
of 16 per cent from 2023. Half (51 per cent) of Canadians believe
that deepfakes are a threat to elections in Canada and other
democratic countries.
As Canadians continue to navigate a messy information ecosystem,
visiting specific news media sites online remains the top method
for accessing news online (35 per cent), followed by Google
searches about news events (33 per cent). Notably, since Meta’s
decision to remove news content from its Canadian services, only 15
per cent of Canadians report accessing news online via Facebook, a
decrease from 34 per cent in 2023.
The findings and more are outlined in CIRA’s 2024
Canada’s Internet Factbook.
Key findings
- About one-in-six Canadians (16 per
cent) say they have used a generative AI tool or platform in the
past year.
- Most Canadians (76 per cent) believe
that posting or sharing deepfakes should not be allowed on social
media.
- The top methods for accessing news
online are visiting specific news/media sites (35 per cent) and
Google searches about news events (33 per cent).
- Only half (51 per cent) of Canadians
say they are confident in their ability to detect fraud/scams
online, down from 67 per cent in 2023.
- Half (53 per cent) of Canadians
believe that having a website makes businesses look more
credible.
About Canada’s Internet
Factbook
Canada’s Internet Factbook 2024 was developed by CIRA through an
online survey conducted by the Strategic Counsel. A total of two
thousand Canadian internet users (18+) were surveyed via an online
panel in March 2024. Every year CIRA produces Canada’s Internet
Factbook through this research to identify trends in Canadian
internet access and use. This year CIRA will post a four-part blog
series of the most salient findings from its annual survey. The
full research results showcasing the latest Canadian internet
trends and online user habits can be found
here.
About CIRA
CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the
.CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada’s
internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs
and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible
space for all. CIRA represents Canada on both national and
international stages to support its goal of building a trusted
internet for Canadians by helping shape the future of the
internet.
Media contact
Delphine Avomo EvounaCIRADelphine.avomoevouna@cira.ca613
315-1458