WSO Releases New Report on India-Linked Disinformation Targeting Canada

Report documents fabricated allegations, bot amplification, media laundering and the real-world impact of disinformation on Sikh Canadians Ottawa (October 19, 2026 )— The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has released a new report, I ndia’s Disinformation Campaign Against Canada’s Sikhs: 2026 Report — Patterns, Propagation & Impact , examining how false and misleading narratives targeting Sikh Canadians are created in India, amplified and ultimately introduced into Canadian public discourse. The report builds on WSO’s 2021 report on Indian disinformation. Five years later, WSO finds that the same basic methodology has intensified, with suspected bot networks, cross-platform amplification and increasingly sophisticated efforts to move narratives from fringe or poorly sourced material into mainstream media and political discussion. Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission has warned that disinformation represents a fundamental threat to Canadian democracy. The Final Report of the Foreign Interference Commission states: “India also uses disinformation as a key form of foreign interference against Canada, a tactic likely to be used more often in the future… India’s activities primarily target the approximately 800,000 members of the Sikh diaspora in Canada and aim to promote a pro-India and anti-Khalistan narrative.” The report finds that Indian disinformation often begins with anonymous or questionable sources, then spreads quickly as multiple outlets repeat the same claims and suspected bot networks amplify them online. These narratives can then enter Canadian media and public debate through commentators, opinion pieces and social media, giving them added credibility. The campaigns often intensify around major political events and can personally target Sikh Canadians with serious allegations, while repeatedly linking Sikh political advocacy and Khalistan with terrorism, organized crime or foreign intelligence. Even after Canadian authorities correct false claims, the original stories often remain online and continue to circulate. Cases highlighted in the report The report documents several incidents of particular relevance to Canadian media: False reports that the four men charged in the killing of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar had been released. Canadian authorities confirmed they remained in custody after major Indian outlets reported the case had collapsed. CBSA superintendent Sundeep “Sunny” Singh Sidhu was falsely linked to terrorism and an assassination in Punjab. The CBSA investigated and cleared him. Suspected bot networks amplified inflammatory narratives after the 2024 Brampton anti-Sikh riot. One Canadian commentator received nearly 6,000 retweets from approximately 1,800 suspicious accounts in November 2024. Two Surrey police officers performing Gatka were portrayed online as “Khalistani cops” preparing to attack a Hindu temple. More than 370 suspected bot accounts amplified the allegation before it appeared on Indian television. A National Post opinion piece repeated an Indian “narco-terrorism” allegation connecting a Peel Police drug investigation to Khalistan. Peel Regional Police told WSO there was no evidence connecting Project Pelican to the Khalistan movement or anti-India activity. The report also connects disinformation with the broader climate of anti-Sikh hate. WSO survey data from more than 1,600 Sikh Canadians found that 80% believe hate and discrimination against Sikhs has increased, 91% of visibly identifiable Sikhs reported being targeted, and, among more than 1,000 respondents answering a question about political beliefs or support for Khalistan, 54% reported experiencing hate connected to those beliefs. WSO President Danish Singh said: “This is no longer a question of whether disinformation targeting Sikhs in Canada exists. Canadian intelligence agencies, the Foreign Interference Commission and independent journalists have documented it. WSO has conducted extensive research into this phenomenon and produced a detailed report. The issue now is how Canada can respond to a system that can take a false allegation, amplify it across platforms and media, and ultimately place real Canadians at risk.” The report calls on governments to treat anti-Sikh disinformation as part of Canada’s broader foreign-interference challenge, establish rapid mechanisms to correct false foreign reporting about Canadians, and improve monitoring of diaspora-targeted information ecosystems. The full report is available here: https://www.worldsikh.org/indias_disinformation_campaign_against_canadas_sikhs_2026 The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs, as well as to advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or social and economic status.