Federal security officials say they have found an online information operation linked to the Chinese government that has signed up for liberal leader Mark Carney.
The security and intelligence threats for the election work group say that he drew the operation to Youli-Youkian, the most popular news account on the Wechat social media platform.
Intelligence reports link the Youli-Youkian account to the Central Commission of Political and Legal Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party.
Federal officials say that the “contrasting narratives” extended in Wechat “amplifying” Carney’s position over the United States and pointing to their experience and credentials.
The working group reports that they saw great increases in what calls “coordinated and non -authentic” online “behavior” not authentic “on March 10, before federal elections were called, and again during the period of writing on March 25.
Federal officials say that a panel of senior bureaucrats that monitors the elections has determined that this activity is not affecting Canada’s ability to celebrate a free and fair vote.
After the growing level of commitment to the online platform, a representative of the Liberal Party was informed on April 6, says a media statement of the private council office.
The working group will raise their concerns with Tencent, the Wechat developer, adds the media statement.
“This case is contained on a platform and has not been extended even more, nor is it affecting Canadian’s skills to make an informed decision about their vote,” says the statement.
“However, it is important that voters be aware of this type of activity and be careful with the information that they could be seeing both online and offline.”
More to come.
