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Canada Uncovers China-Linked Disinformation Campaign Targeting Mark Carney

Officials confirm a coordinated operation on WeChat to influence Chinese-Canadian voters ahead of the federal election, but affirm election integrity remains intact.

Liberal leader Mark Carney speaks to a crowd outside that weren't able to get into his event due to capacity, before a meet and greet at the Victoria Edelweiss Club In Victoria, B.C., on Sunday, April 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
WeChat articles from the Youli-Youmian account that targeted LPC Leader Mark Carney. Social media engagement for these articles was high, even exceeding the engagement level on state-controlled media outlets like the People’s Daily, which averages about 30,000 interactions per post.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney takes questions from the media on the campaign trail in Saanichton, B.C., on April 7, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks about tariffs during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday April 3, 2025.

Overview

  • The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force has identified a Chinese-backed disinformation campaign on WeChat targeting Liberal Leader Mark Carney.
  • The campaign, linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, uses the Youli-Youmian account to amplify inauthentic narratives about Carney.
  • Coordinated activity was observed on March 10 and March 25, 2025, with posts receiving up to 130,000 interactions and millions of views, primarily targeting Chinese-Canadian communities.
  • Canadian authorities have engaged Tencent, WeChat's developer, to address concerns and ensure measures are in place to mitigate foreign interference.
  • Officials emphasize that the operation has not compromised the ability to conduct a free and fair election, urging voters to critically evaluate information sources.