June 12, 2026

On Friday, June 3, 2026, the federal government introduced a new National Artificial Intelligence Strategy called “AI for All”.

The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), representing Canada’s 19 medical schools and the academic medicine community, welcomes the federal government’s increased attention to the risks posed by online and artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled harms. As trusted institutions responsible for training the country’s future physicians and advancing health research, we underscore the urgent need for robust, coordinated action to protect Canadians from medical misinformation and related digital harms.

The rapid evolution of AI technologies has significantly accelerated the creation and spread of health misinformation and disinformation online. From AI-generated deepfakes to increasingly sophisticated chatbots and synthetic content, Canadians are being exposed to inaccurate, misleading, or harmful medical information at an unprecedented scale and speed. These risks are not theoretical – they are already affecting patient decision-making, vaccine confidence, adherence to evidence-based treatments, and overall public trust in health systems.

Medical misinformation presents a serious threat to individual and public health. It can delay appropriate care, encourage the use of ineffective or unsafe therapies, and undermine confidence in clinicians, public health authorities, and scientific institutions. For vulnerable populations – including children, minorities, and those with limited health literacy – the impacts can be especially severe.

AFMC strongly supports the development and implementation of comprehensive legislation and regulatory frameworks to address these risks. In particular, we call for:

• Modernized online safety legislation that explicitly addresses health and medical misinformation, including mechanisms to hold platforms and content creators accountable for harmful content;

• Stronger privacy and data protections to ensure that personal health information is not exploited or misused by AI systems in ways that could harm individuals or enable targeted disinformation;

• Clear standards for transparency and labelling of AI-generated health content, including the use of watermarking or disclosure requirements to help Canadians distinguish between verified and synthetic information;

• Enhanced safeguards for children and vulnerable populations, who are disproportionately affected by harmful online content;

• Effective enforcement mechanisms, including independent oversight, to ensure that legislative commitments translate into meaningful protections.

At the same time, legislation alone will not be sufficient. AFMC emphasizes the importance of complementary measures, including:

• Investment in health and digital literacy, equipping Canadians with the skills to critically assess online medical information;

• Support for trusted, evidence-based health communication, including partnerships with academic institutions, clinicians, and public health organizations;

• Ongoing research and monitoring to better understand the evolving landscape of AI-enabled harms and to inform adaptive policy responses.

Canada has an opportunity to lead globally in building a digital ecosystem that fosters innovation while safeguarding public health. Achieving this balance requires a clear commitment to protecting Canadians from the harms of medical misinformation and ensuring that emerging technologies are developed and deployed responsibly.

AFMC stands ready to work with governments, regulators, and partners across sectors to advance policies and practices that uphold scientific integrity, protect patients, and strengthen trust in health information in the digital age.

Contact: advocacy@afmc.ca