The federal government will announce $7 million in funding on Wednesday to fight the spread of disinformation and “fake news” online, The Logic has learned.
Sources with knowledge of the program said grants will be awarded to mount public-awareness campaigns that will combat the spread of disinformation and misinformation online and increase digital literacy in the lead-up to the fall federal election.
This is the first federal funding of its kind to counter online disinformation and misinformation in Canada and comes five days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly criticized technology giants at an event in Quebec City.
