Ontario Councilor Arrested Over Threatening Voicemail Allegedly Masked by AI Claim
PETERBOROUGH, Ontario — Ontario Councilor Corinna Traill was arrested on December 4, 2025, following allegations that she left a threatening voicemail last summer aimed at a former mayoral candidate and his wife. The voicemail, which contained disturbing threats including a declaration to kill the candidate and sexually assault his wife, has sparked significant controversy, especially after Traill claimed parts of the message were artificially generated.
According to the Peterborough Police Service, Traill was charged with two counts of uttering threats. The charges stem from an August voicemail left for Tom Dingwall, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the recent municipal election. Dingwall publicly disclosed the voicemail on social media in September, describing the message in detail and condemning the use of intimidation tactics by elected officials.
“Miss Traill made it clear that if I did not withdraw, she would come to my home, kill me, and sexually assault my wife, then sexually assault her again,” Dingwall wrote on his Facebook page. He further called for Traill’s resignation, emphasizing that elected representatives should not use threats to influence electoral contests or public service.
In response, Traill posted a statement on Facebook denying authorship of the entire voicemail. She acknowledged that while portions of the message were her voice, other parts were allegedly created using artificial intelligence technology. “I want to state clearly and unequivocally: I did not create this message,” she wrote. Traill indicated that her team was investigating the source of the AI-generated content.
This incident highlights growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence in political discourse and misinformation. The Government of Canada has recently increased efforts to regulate AI technologies to prevent malicious use, including in electoral contexts.
Following her arrest, Traill was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court in January 2026. The Peterborough Police Service continues to investigate the case and has urged the public to report any additional information related to the voicemail or similar incidents.
The case has drawn attention to the intersection of emerging technologies and political accountability. Experts from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada have warned about the potential for AI to fabricate audio or video that can be weaponized to damage reputations or influence public opinion. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing democratic institutions in the digital age.
Meanwhile, the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada continues to work on frameworks to ensure transparency and authenticity in communications, especially those involving public officials.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Corinna Traill for further comment but has not yet received a response. As the investigation proceeds, the community and political observers await clarity on the origins of the threatening voicemail and the role artificial intelligence may have played in its creation.
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