The economy is making people nervous. The country feels off track. Yet voters are still sticking with the government. That tells us something important about where Canadian politics is heading.
Why aren’t campaign commercials illegal outside of elections? I really think they should be. Also we should outlaw the use of AI in them as well, too easy to lie and mislead, things that are already problem in politics.
Political advertising has always pushed the limits of persuasion, but AI adds a whole new layer because it can create people, stories, and scenarios that never actually existed.
The real challenge now is transparency.
If AI is being used in political messaging, Canadians should know it.
Democracy depends on voters being able to tell the difference between what's real and what's manufactured.
It's the people that have zero knowledge about AI Fred that are gonna believe the fake news....another trucker convoy fiasco? Possibly, that sick way of thinking.
The unfortunate part is if you try to "regulate" this somehow, then you would be accused of "denying free speech" or some such. Canadian (and most countries') laws tend to regulate this content more so DURING an election period -- or at the very least, regulate who pays for the ads and out of which pools of fundraising. The USA has essentially got around all such rules with their infamous "Citizens United" supreme court ruling a decade or so ago. That's what allowed all the SuperPACs to form (a PAC -- Political Action Committee -- is largely constrained with campaign finance laws. But superPACs aren't).
To me, the only real counter to what the perps are doing is to essentially fight back the same way -- here's what's really happening (backed by evidence of how it's working, or its progress towards working, etc.). The obvious thing for Alberta right now is "You know, the longer this referendum stuff drags out, the longer it will take before anyone invests in pipelines . . . ." (then again, they might count on that, as that would hold back economic recovery a bit -- well, until all the manufacturing ramps up).
Fred, usually when I respond to your (always excellent) articles, I try to hold back from launching into full-bore politics. But in this case - and some of your other themes this past week or so, politics underlies the topic. So my apologies up-front if I'm running too far (and I'll try to keep it short):
- Canada in general (and Carney in particular) is "whooping" the Americans in our resilience and economic pivots. Tariff impacts, while significant, are not breaking us, and our landing of international agreements (on economic, manufacturing, and defence fronts) has been, well, incredible (for such a short time frame)
- USA is losing ground, and they know it. They know it for CUSMA trade negotiations, too.
- How do you stop/slow foreign investment into Canada?
- Go fund a separatist revolution. They really may not care if it's successful (bonus points if it is, though)
- The longer it drags out, the longer it will take for investment in Alberta (in particular) but also the rest of Canada (because the uncertainty is there).
- I'm blaming USA here, but there's also signs that Russia has a hand in it, too (are they really different? Well, that's a whole other discussion ;-) ).
So, this isn't just evil advertising on UPC/CPC's fronts which we can criticize as inappropriate.
I think it's definitely planned foreign interference. As you point out, the stakes are far higher than little old Alberta (or Quebec, or wherever). And this needs to be countered somehow (hmm, maybe we get Doug Ford to do the Reagan ads again??? . . . . Being humourous -- the response has to be more subtle and grassroots than something overt like that).
It’s not a free speech issue at all, because it not a limit on what you can say, it just a ban of using a specific technology. I don’t have a problem with reasonable limits on speech but
even without AI it is already too easy to mislead people.
Carney is checking off all the boxes for what the world is looking for. Some countries are right up there, but the people of the world are done with the authoritarian/Trumpian style ridiculousness.
Around the world, people may disagree on policy, but they're increasingly looking for competence, stability, and leaders who solve problems instead of creating them.
Why aren’t campaign commercials illegal outside of elections? I really think they should be. Also we should outlaw the use of AI in them as well, too easy to lie and mislead, things that are already problem in politics.
You raise a fair concern, Kalyrn.
Political advertising has always pushed the limits of persuasion, but AI adds a whole new layer because it can create people, stories, and scenarios that never actually existed.
The real challenge now is transparency.
If AI is being used in political messaging, Canadians should know it.
Democracy depends on voters being able to tell the difference between what's real and what's manufactured.
It's the people that have zero knowledge about AI Fred that are gonna believe the fake news....another trucker convoy fiasco? Possibly, that sick way of thinking.
The unfortunate part is if you try to "regulate" this somehow, then you would be accused of "denying free speech" or some such. Canadian (and most countries') laws tend to regulate this content more so DURING an election period -- or at the very least, regulate who pays for the ads and out of which pools of fundraising. The USA has essentially got around all such rules with their infamous "Citizens United" supreme court ruling a decade or so ago. That's what allowed all the SuperPACs to form (a PAC -- Political Action Committee -- is largely constrained with campaign finance laws. But superPACs aren't).
To me, the only real counter to what the perps are doing is to essentially fight back the same way -- here's what's really happening (backed by evidence of how it's working, or its progress towards working, etc.). The obvious thing for Alberta right now is "You know, the longer this referendum stuff drags out, the longer it will take before anyone invests in pipelines . . . ." (then again, they might count on that, as that would hold back economic recovery a bit -- well, until all the manufacturing ramps up).
Very frustrating
You've put your finger on the dilemma, Grant.
The moment governments start deciding what political speech is allowed, they risk creating a different problem.
That's why transparency may be more practical than censorship.
If an ad uses AI-generated people, voices, or imagery, voters should be told that upfront.
As for Alberta, uncertainty is rarely an investment magnet.
Companies making multi-billion-dollar decisions want predictability, not constitutional question marks.
Whether it's pipelines, manufacturing, or major infrastructure, investors tend to wait when the political ground starts shifting beneath their feet.
The frustrating part is that uncertainty itself becomes a cost, even before anything actually changes.
Fred, usually when I respond to your (always excellent) articles, I try to hold back from launching into full-bore politics. But in this case - and some of your other themes this past week or so, politics underlies the topic. So my apologies up-front if I'm running too far (and I'll try to keep it short):
- Canada in general (and Carney in particular) is "whooping" the Americans in our resilience and economic pivots. Tariff impacts, while significant, are not breaking us, and our landing of international agreements (on economic, manufacturing, and defence fronts) has been, well, incredible (for such a short time frame)
- USA is losing ground, and they know it. They know it for CUSMA trade negotiations, too.
- How do you stop/slow foreign investment into Canada?
- Go fund a separatist revolution. They really may not care if it's successful (bonus points if it is, though)
- The longer it drags out, the longer it will take for investment in Alberta (in particular) but also the rest of Canada (because the uncertainty is there).
- I'm blaming USA here, but there's also signs that Russia has a hand in it, too (are they really different? Well, that's a whole other discussion ;-) ).
So, this isn't just evil advertising on UPC/CPC's fronts which we can criticize as inappropriate.
I think it's definitely planned foreign interference. As you point out, the stakes are far higher than little old Alberta (or Quebec, or wherever). And this needs to be countered somehow (hmm, maybe we get Doug Ford to do the Reagan ads again??? . . . . Being humourous -- the response has to be more subtle and grassroots than something overt like that).
You are likely so right about the pipelines & blaming PM instead of DS!!!
It’s not a free speech issue at all, because it not a limit on what you can say, it just a ban of using a specific technology. I don’t have a problem with reasonable limits on speech but
even without AI it is already too easy to mislead people.
I totally agree. Political parties hould not be allowed to use AI at all and should face serious consequences for misleading the public.
I understand the concern, Mark.
The challenge is that AI itself isn't necessarily the problem... it's how it's used.
AI can help write speeches, analyze data, or create graphics.
The real issue is when it creates fake people, fake events, or fake testimony and presents them as real.
At a minimum, I think Canadians deserve full disclosure.
If a political ad uses AI-generated images, voices, or actors, that should be clearly identified.
Voters can't make informed decisions if they don't know what's authentic and what's been manufactured.
Carney is checking off all the boxes for what the world is looking for. Some countries are right up there, but the people of the world are done with the authoritarian/Trumpian style ridiculousness.
I think that's a big part of it, Vinny.
Around the world, people may disagree on policy, but they're increasingly looking for competence, stability, and leaders who solve problems instead of creating them.
In uncertain times, calm often beats chaos.
Thanks Fred, I have always had a gut feeling about AI & refuse to use it. Sounds like it's gonna turn the world on its axis one day!