(OTTAWA) The global rise of disinformation threatens national institutions and processes that support democracy, warns the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Richard Wagner said in a speech Wednesday that people around the world have increasingly polarized ideas about what can be considered true.
Wagner told a conference hosted by the Canadian Bar Association that exposure to misinformation can increase political cynicism, change voting patterns and distort national debates on important issues.
He noted that in Canada, researchers say misinformation can threaten public health and safety, as well as the legitimacy of democratic processes.
“This global rise in disinformation is linked to the global assault on democracy and the rule of law. »
Wagner said he and others who attended a meeting of the Canadian Judicial Council in April discussed these threats to democracy and the rule of law.
“We agreed that the judiciary has a role to play in addressing these trends,” he said.
A strong democracy depends on Canadians having access to diverse and reliable sources of information so that they can form opinions and participate in public debates in a productive way, argued the Chief Justice.
Fewer journalists in the courtyards
Earlier this year, Mr. Wagner participated in a conference that brought together judges and court communications officials from across Canada.
“They were asked if they had noticed fewer journalists covering their courts. Everyone raised their hands, including the representatives of the Supreme Court of Canada,” said Mr. Wagner.
“Journalists are not responsible for this trend. There are simply fewer journalists, fewer resources, and they all have to feed the news machine around the clock across multiple media platforms. »
Mr. Wagner has always stressed the importance of helping Canadians understand the work of the Supreme Court through initiatives such as the publication of clearly written summaries of decisions and the relocation of the Court, based in Ottawa , Quebec and Winnipeg.
The importance of the media
Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said in a panel discussion at the conference that protecting the rule of law depends on maintaining public trust.
“We have an interest in doing everything in our power to achieve this goal,” he said. This is where the media comes in.”
Mr Joyal said that as Chief Justice it is his responsibility to ensure that members of the media have what they need to report information, educate the public and play a constructive role in the review of the work of the courts.
“And all of this, if done correctly, I think will help build public confidence in what we’re doing,” he said.