Rory White
@rorywh.bsky.social
🏴🇨🇦 Technology and Democracy Reporter at Canada's National Observer. Creator of Civic Searchlight. Contact: rwhite.12 (Signal)
CNO's @rorywh.bsky.social was invited on Metro Morning to talk about his impressive reporting on Brad Bradford's use of an app that rewards supporters for posting AI-generated comments. Check it out!
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pretty insane that any random person can make a new site using AI in minutes, and have that site be 40% of sources for voter advice on chatgpt in a few weeks
Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy@mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social · last wk.🟢 Des sources récentes, non officielles et anonymes figurent souvent dans les réponses : un site créé le 21 août à l'aide de l'IA apparaît dans 39 % des réponses de ChatGPT comparant les partis ou recommandant un vote. L'utilisation d'information incomplète est source de biais.
seems bad that 23 out of 24 of these sites are still up, with incorrect election dates, right before the referendum. 11 of them are .ca domains. @cira.ca seems like you should do something about this?
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 3w agoINVESTIGATION: Canada’s National Observer has discovered a network of deceptive, AI-generated websites promoting Albertan separatism. The websites, rather than targeting human readers, are targeting chatbots — trying to influence the answers they provide.
Missed this story earlier this week. Yeesh. 😬 I wonder if we'll see anything like this in our (two) BC election campaign(s).
Rory White@rorywh.bsky.social · 5d agoBradford's team told us that it is "leading the way in bringing innovation to Canadian campaigns." The technology is fully legal, and is being described by a high profile campaign as completely normal. Perhaps this is the future of Canadian local elections? www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
There’s an Israeli app claiming to turn a politician’s supporters into “digital fighters” by feeding them AI-generated replies for “rewards.” It was just used for the first time in Canadian politics — that we know of. I'm teaming up with @nationalobserver.com to share @rorywh.bsky.social's scoop!!
Bradford's campaign is now distancing itself from AI: "A human member of our campaign team sees, redrafts, edits and approves every single suggested comment before it goes to supporters - who personally decide whether or not to post it on their individual accounts." Meanwhile, they tell supporters
Looking to interview a privacy expert with knowledge of municipal elections in Ontario. Anyone know somebody?
ICYMI: our investigation shows Brad Bradford's mayoral campaign is the first known example in Canada to use the Victory App. The app generates talking points for supporters to use online, then rewards those users for posting them. Experts have begun calling it "cyborg propaganda."
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
Yikes! Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
📣Big news! The Federal Court ruled in our favour in the climate accountability case 🎉 In June @environmentaldefence.ca teamed up with three youth and @cape-acme.bsky.social to take the federal government to court over their lack of a credible plan to meet the legally binding 2030 climate target 1/
Must read story here from @rorywh.bsky.social about the Bradford campaign using an app that uses AI to launder its talking points through real people.
Rory White@rorywh.bsky.social · 5d agoBradford's team told us that it is "leading the way in bringing innovation to Canadian campaigns." The technology is fully legal, and is being described by a high profile campaign as completely normal. Perhaps this is the future of Canadian local elections? www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Another banger from @rorywh.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
Bradford's team told us that it is "leading the way in bringing innovation to Canadian campaigns." The technology is fully legal, and is being described by a high profile campaign as completely normal. Perhaps this is the future of Canadian local elections? www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
An Israeli app that allows political campaigns to feed supporters AI-generated arguments to use on social media has arrived in Canada. Now, @rorywh.bsky.social has revealed it's being used in Brad Bradford's Toronto mayoral election campaign.
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
Political support on social media is becoming even more of a mirage. Absolutely stellar work by @rorywh.bsky.social here, who has been tracking the Victory App for a good while.
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 5d agoNew investigation: an Israeli app that allows political campaigns to feed supporters AI-generated arguments to use on social media has arrived in Canada. It's being used in the highest profile mayoral campaign in Canada, @rorywh.bsky.social reveals.
Rory got into the app to see what supporters were actually being asked to do.
Rory White@rorywh.bsky.social · 5d agoThe first mission offered coins for posting a pro-Bradford comment on Instagram: “It's honestly a relief to hear someone actually say what most of us feel – this city could be so much better. Glad you're not pretending it's all fine like the rest.” www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Really good 🧵 on today's important story. And this quote from Concordia prof Fenwick McKelvey in @rorywh.bsky.social's February story on the app has stuck with me: "You are selling tools under the promise of participating in democracy, undermining the very conditions that enable that democracy."
Politicians are being sold AI-powered 'digital fighters'
A new app gets around bot bans by recruiting real people to post political messages generated by AI.
nationalobserver.com
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 5d agoThe way the app works is this: -Supporters sign up and download the app -Soon, they begin receiving notifications, known in the app as "Digital Fighters Tasks" -The app auto-generates text for the supporter to post, and offers a reward in exchange for copying it on to social media
New investigation: an Israeli app that allows political campaigns to feed supporters AI-generated arguments to use on social media has arrived in Canada. It's being used in the highest profile mayoral campaign in Canada, @rorywh.bsky.social reveals.
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
The first mission offered coins for posting a pro-Bradford comment on Instagram: “It's honestly a relief to hear someone actually say what most of us feel – this city could be so much better. Glad you're not pretending it's all fine like the rest.” www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/21/i...
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
nationalobserver.com
Every time any media outlet interviews Keith Wilson or Tanya Clemens, they must be asked to explain the Let Alberta Decide's link to this campaign. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/04/i...
Max Fawcett@maxfawcett.bsky.social · 2w agoYou'll never guess who's behind this. (Just kidding, you'll totally guess. It's easy.) #cdnpoli #abpoli www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx0p...
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots. Amazing investigative work by @nationalobserver.com's @rorywh.bsky.social. Please read: www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/04/i...
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
nationalobserver.com
I spoke to CTV News today about my latest investigation into the fleet of websites trying to influence what AI chatbots tell voters in the upcoming referendum in Alberta. First time on TV so was pretty scary. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx0p...
Who’s behind fake sites sending Alta. separatism disinformation to AI chatbots? | Deception Decoded
YouTube video by CTV News
youtube.com
We're continuing to build this database for journalists, researchers, municipal staff and the curious public. Check it out!
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 2w agoAs of this week, Civic Searchlight has meetings from more than 700 municipalities in its database. It's a great time to sign up if you haven't already:
I recently started a new job as @cabinradio.ca’s Ottawa correspondent. In short order I flew to Yellowknife, met the team, drove to Wrigley and got a crash course in radio.
I had the most incredible five years with @nationalobserver.com. I’ll miss everyone dearly and am SO proud of the journalism we produce and innovations like the Civic Searchlight tool. Now it’s time for me to become a CNO subscriber (and you should, too!)
A network of deceptive, AI-generated websites has been promoting Albertan separatism. Their goal? To influence the answers chatbots give out!! @nationalobserver.com's intrepid @rorywh.bsky.social uncovered this huge story. Today, I’m teaming up with these pals to share it:
I'm running a @bellingcat.com workshop here in Toronto November 16-20. We don't do these often, so grab a space now if you can! The workshop covers all of the latest in digital open source investigations, and is very interactive with lots of activities. www.bellingcat.com/workshops/no...
November 16-20, 2026: Bellingcat Deep-Dive into Open Source Investigations (Five-Day Workshop). Toronto, Canada - bellingcat
Sign up for a deep-dive into open source investigative techniques presented by Bellingcat researchers in Toronto in November 2026.
bellingcat.com
On Friday, after our investigation was published, OpenAI banned the account behind the websites. You can submit any image here to find out if it was made with OpenAI's models: openai.com/research/ver... www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/04/i...
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
nationalobserver.com
Update: OpenAI says following its own investigation, prompted by this story, it has banned the account of one of the creators of this network of websites.
A US-linked network of fake websites is promoting Alberta separatism to AI chatbots
The websites present crude, AI-generated slop disguised as the voice of real Albertans. But they're made in Florida — and they're not even targeting Albertans directly.
nationalobserver.com
