National Action Plan on Open Government Commitment

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C02.1.01 - Democracy and Civic Space

Commitment:
Democracy and Civic Space
Milestone:
Take action to address the rising spread of disinformation in Canada and its consequences on the health of our democracy
Indicator:
C02.1.01 - Projects are supported by the Digital Citizen Contribution Program with a focus of combatting online disinformation and other harms in a Canadian context to better understand the origins, impacts and potential response to online disinformation
Lead Organization:
Canadian Heritage
Deadline:
By March 2023
Summit for Democracy:
Yes

Updates

2024-06
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

The Digital Citizen Contribution Program's Call for Proposals 5 provided more than $9 million in total funding for research and citizen-focused activities projects. In total, 27 project were funded.

Evidence:
2024-03
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

The DCCP is assessing and administering funding applications from its most recent Call for Proposals. All funding decisions are expected to be announced in spring 2024.

Evidence:
Challenges:

NUL

2023-12
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

On October 27, 2023, the DCCP announced an open call for proposals with an application deadline of November 28, 2023. The program is in the process of assessing these applications.

Evidence:
Challenges:

NUL

2023-09
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

The Digital Citizen Initiative launched its fifth call for proposals on October 27, 2023.

This call for proposals will provide over $7m in financial support for projects to better understand the origins, impacts and potential response to online disinformation

2023-06
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

A new $1.5-million targeted DCCP call-for-proposals was announced to fund projects that will raise awareness about tools and services offered by non-government organizations and online platforms and services to counter online harms against kids and more generally hate speech, incitement to violence, child sexual exploitation material, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. Applications were assessed and decisions were made about sucessful applicants in June 2023.

Evidence:
2023-03
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

A new $1.5-million targeted DCCP call-for-proposals was announced to fund projects that will raise awareness about tools and services offered by non-government organizations and online platforms and services to counter online harms against kids and more generally hate speech, incitement to violence, child sexual exploitation material, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

Evidence:
2022-12
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

Funding decisions are complete for the intake that was open from July 21 to August 18, 2022. Unsuccessful applicants were notified and Contribution Agreements have been been signed with successful applicants.

Evidence:
2022-09
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

Assessments are completed for the intake that was open from July 21 to August 18, 2022. Proposed initiatives aim to support efforts to counter online misinformation and disinformation, and other harmful online content. The approvals process is underway.

Evidence:
2022-06
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

Proposals were submitted in response to the special, targeted call for proposals to fund initiatives that help people identify misinformation and disinformation online. Assessment process underway.

2022-03
Status:
Substantial progress
Evidence of progress:

In 2021-22, the Digital Citizen Contribution Program (DCCP) launched a call for proposals to provide time-limited financial assistance of up to $100,000 per project for the following types of research projects: i. projects that aim to understand the role of algorithms, artificial intelligence, and other system-level factors on mainstream and fringe online platforms as they pertain to the spread, uptake, and impacts of disinformation and related harms, including on user behaviour and content consumption, and their potential uses towards a diverse and healthy information ecosystem; ii. projects that aim to understand the domestic and transnational spread, evolution, and impacts of online disinformation and related harms through and on diaspora, Indigenous, and non-English primary language communities in Canada using a GBA+ lens, including impacts on societal outcomes; or iii. projects that aim to evaluate existing Canadian or international research and programming related to online disinformation and their effectiveness in furthering positive societal outcomes, such as citizen resilience, social cohesion, media literacy, and participation and trust in democratic processes. Funds received through this call for proposals had to be spent by March 31, 2022.
Additionally there were three named recipients: The Public Policy Forum (PPF) entered its third year in a four-year $2.5 million multiyear agreement. MediaSmarts entered its second year in a three-year $225,000 multiyear. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was funded $40,000 for its Trust in Government Survey.
As the pandemic continued into its third year and the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatened democracies around the world, the DCCP launched a special, targeted call for proposals to fund initiatives that help people identify misinformation and disinformation online. The application deadline is April 1, 2022.

Evidence:

The DCCP funded 15 projects totaling $1.3 million through its third annual call for proposals. Research reports from these projects and the OECD project will be available in 2022-23. MediaSmarts held its 2021-22 Media Literacy Week. Events can be found at https://mediasmarts.ca/mlw-events. One of the Public Policy Forum's 2021-22 reports can be found at https://ppforum.ca/articles/recommendations-to-strengthen-canadas-response-to-the-spread-of-disinformation-online/.
The news release for the special targeted call for proposals related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine can be found at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/03/government-of-canada-reinforces-support-to-organizations-to-help-counter-harmful-disinformation.html.
All projects funded by the DCCP to date can be found at https://search.open.canada.ca/grants/?sort=score%20desc&page=1&search_text=%22digital%20citizen%20contribution%20program%22.