Understanding government social media users’ role in disseminating misinformation: A comparative study of Canada and the United Kingdom

The role social media plays in creating and disseminating misleading information, including fake images and visuals is well recognized by scholars and governments around the world. Many governments, including in Canada and the United Kingdom (UK), are working on, or have already introduced regulatory frameworks to combat disinformation and prevent harms for vulnerable populations. Among these vulnerable populations, migrant social media users form a distinct group of government social media users with specific information and interaction needs. As literature demonstrates, migrants are actively present on social media, including government social media and can benefit from information-sharing and connections it enables. However, social media can also deter migrants from pursuing migration opportunities. This paper examines the use of X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the UK Home Office (Home Office) by government social media users, including migrant social media users. It specifically investigates if government social media users are spreading misinformation and the prevalence of misinformation on the IRCC and Home Office X accounts. As findings demonstrate, these two government accounts are used differently: IRCC X is used to advocate for causes and ask questions, while Home Office social media users are mostly voicing their opinions by critiquing politicians and government policies, and these critiques often contain misinformation. Finally, misleading tweets remain accessible for public consumption.