In a recent public inquiry into foreign election interference, a contrast in how social media platforms handle misinformation was brought to light. During the 2019 federal election campaign, Facebook took quick action to remove a false and inflammatory story about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the request of top civil servants. However, a similar approach was not taken when it came to misinformation about Conservative leaders on WeChat during the 2021 election.

The story on Facebook alleged that Trudeau had an affair with a student while teaching in 2000 and was published by the Buffalo Chronicle. Concerned about the potential impact on the election’s integrity, officials from the Privy Council Office requested its removal, which Facebook promptly did.

On the other hand, during the 2021 federal election, misleading stories targeting Conservative leader Erin O’Toole and MP Kenny Chiu circulated on China’s WeChat. Despite these issues being flagged to officials, no action was taken to remove the misleading content.

During the inquiry, Allan Sutherland emphasized that while the Facebook story targeted Trudeau’s character directly with false and inflammatory information, WeChat postings focused on substantive policy issues in an inflammatory manner. He also noted that since WeChat posts were in Mandarin, they would only reach the Chinese diaspora.

Sutherland highlighted that while both situations were taken seriously, they had different qualities in terms of potential reach and impact. The Globe and Mail later reported that Conservative MP Michael Chong and other politicians were targeted by China during the 2021 election.

This discussion sheds light on how social media platforms handle misinformation differently and underscores the importance of addressing such issues to safeguard electoral integrity. Stay informed and vigilant as we navigate through evolving digital landscapes in today’s political landscape.