From the Cambridge Analytica scandal to overloaded internet voting servers to faulty voting machines, the growing relationship between democracy and technology has brought to light the challenges associated with integrating new digital tools into the electoral system. Canadian politics has also felt the impact of this migration online.

This timely book presents the first comprehensive study of the various cyber-threats to election integrity across Canadian jurisdictions. Scrutinizing the events of the 2019 federal election, Cyber-Threats to Canadian Democracy examines how new technologies have affected the practice of electoral politics and what we can do to strengthen future Canadian elections. Through the disciplines of political science, law, computer science, engineering, communications, and others, chapters shed light on some of the most contentious issues around technology and electoral integrity. The contributors address current domestic and foreign threats to Canadian elections, evaluate the behaviour of actors ranging from political parties and interest groups to policymakers and election administrators, and assess emerging legal and regulatory responses while anticipating future challenges to the quality of elections in Canada and around the globe.

Cyber-Threats to Canadian Democracy helps seed the study of digital technology’s security risks, providing insight into what reforms are needed and evaluating existing legal and policy frameworks in light of these threats.

Holly Ann Garnett is associate professor of political science at the Royal Military College of Canada and director of the Electoral Integrity Project.

Holly Ann Garnett's profile page

Michael Pal is associate professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa.

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“This volume is the first study of how new technologies may impact Canadian election processes. The text offers a multidisciplinary perspective to the domestic and foreign threats to the electoral process. This work sounds an alarm. The challenge is how to respond.” Choice

“Digital technologies present numerous advantages to democratic engagement alongside some very real threats to the Canadian political environment. Cyber-Threats to Canadian Democracy opens up the conversation and offers timely and important research on the topic.” Andrea Lawlor, University of Western Ontario