Luke Grant speaks with Kenny Chiu, Former Canadian politician representing Steveston – Richmond East BC, whose defeat in the 2021 election was linked to a propaganda campaign against him.

Two researchers at McGill University say a disinformation campaign against Mr Chiu is a disturbing demonstration of how propaganda tactics could be used by hostile foreign actors to interfere with Canada’s political system.

During the 2021 federal election campaign Mr. Chiu, who was an outspoken critic of Beijing’s crackdown on dissent and protest in Hong Kong, believes that stance may have led to a disinformation campaign against him.

He was condemned on Chinese-language social media, alleging his attitude would “suppress the Chinese community” in Canada. The comments were disseminated on apps and websites widely used by some Canadians of Chinese origin, who make up approximately half of his seat’s population.

What is alarming, according to the academics, is “these tactics could be deployed against any group in an information and psychological warfare campaign,” – “In short it has high potential for interference in Canada’s electoral process by foreign state actors and thus severely threatens the country’s liberal democracy.”

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