Information & Ethics committee  That is possible. The other serious related threat is that we don't know what's being said. With the way communication happens now, which is often over apps and other ways that don't allow us to keep track of what's being said, we have less of a window into what's being said. Related to this, there is less of an accountability mechanism, in that we have less journalism than we had in the past.

Information & Ethics committee  I'm happy to say two things very quickly, Madam Damoff. The first is that, personally—if I could say this—I was sad to see that you have decided not to re-offer; and the reasons you've given are, I know, very real, genuine and serious. I think we're arriving at a place where the disinhibition that social media allows in turn allows people to come to views about politicians that are unfair and incorrect.

Information & Ethics committee  I don't have the expertise to comment on that.

Information & Ethics committee  I am.

Information & Ethics committee  Mr. Barrett, I read the Prime Minister's statement as definitive. I read the statement of Justice Hogue as being one with uncertainty, one in which she's saying that we don't know, but it's possible. As a person who's spent the better part of 15 years as a practising academic studying elections very closely and trying to figure out why some ridings are won and some ridings are lost, I'll tell you that Justice Hogue has the correct position.

Information & Ethics committee  I think that's largely a political question. I don't mean to dodge it, but what that says about the Prime Minister and his judgment is for Canadians to decide.

Information & Ethics committee  This is not an area in which I have precise expertise, so I'm not going to take long to say it. The most effective way that this can happen, as I've seen it, is by inserting into the ecosystem ideas about what political candidates would do or what parties would do. Then it allows individuals who are interested in politics and like to talk about it to spread those ideas.

Information & Ethics committee  This is a very difficult question to answer, in my view, Mr. Barrett,. I appreciate your asking it. I'll just say it quickly on two levels. Suppose that the Communist Party of China has spread misinformation about the positions of parties or voters in ways that are untrue and that are damaging.

Information & Ethics committee  Thank you very much to the committee for this invitation to appear, and thank you, each and every one of you, for the irreplaceable work you do as members of Parliament. It is a real pleasure, and it's an honour as well, to be with you today to talk about the role of misinformation and disinformation in your work as members of Parliament.