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3mo ago

Canadian Task Force Uncovers China-Linked Campaign Targeting Chrystia Freeland

A coordinated disinformation effort on WeChat sought to undermine Freeland's bid to lead the Liberal Party, according to Canadian security officials.

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland speaks at a press conference in Toronto on Sunday Jan. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former Finance Minister, holds a campaign event after announcing on social media that she will run to replace her former boss, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 19, 2025. REUTERS/Cole Burston/File Photo
Chrystia Freeland, Canada's former finance minister, during a campaign event in Toronto, Ontario, on Sunday. (Bloomberg)
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Overview

  • The Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force (SITE) identified a China-linked disinformation campaign targeting Chrystia Freeland, a candidate for Liberal Party leadership.
  • The campaign involved over 30 WeChat news accounts spreading disparaging articles about Freeland, which garnered over 140,000 interactions and reached an estimated 2-3 million global users between January 29 and February 3, 2025.
  • The malicious activity was traced to an anonymous but popular WeChat blog previously linked to the Chinese government by experts and Canadian intelligence officials.
  • Freeland, who recently resigned as Finance Minister and announced her candidacy after Justin Trudeau's resignation, condemned the interference and reaffirmed her commitment to protecting Canadian democracy.
  • This revelation follows a broader investigation into China's attempts to meddle in Canadian elections, with officials warning that foreign disinformation campaigns pose a growing threat to democratic institutions.