Yao Zhang, a Quebec-based influencer, was shocked to discover deepfake explicit images of herself spreading online—a digital assault Canada blames on the Chinese government. Her support for Taiwan’s independence in January 2024 appears to have triggered this wave of intimidation, including doxxing, false rumors, and threats to her family in China.
Zhang is not alone. Canadian activists critical of China’s policies face similar tactics: surveillance, online disinformation, and police harassment of relatives abroad. According to a CBC News and ICIJ investigation, these incidents are part of China’s broader strategy to stifle dissent globally.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who spent over 1,000 days imprisoned in China, warns this campaign undermines Canadian democracy and national security. Parliament passed Bill C-70 in 2024 to combat foreign interference, but implementation has stalled under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration.
China’s targets often speak out on “the five poisons”—Hong Kong democracy, Uyghur rights, Tibetan autonomy, Falun Gong, and Taiwanese sovereignty. Dan Stanton, a former CSIS officer, confirms the Chinese Communist Party views overseas dissidents as threats to be neutralized using subtle and coercive methods.
The ICIJ’s global investigation found China’s proxies exploit institutions like Interpol and the UN to pursue critics. Victims in Canada, including Uyghur advocate Mehmet Tohti and Hong Kong activist Joe Tay, report surveillance, online attacks, and intimidation of family members.
Justice Marie-Josée Hogue’s public inquiry deemed China the most active source of foreign interference in Canada. She called transnational repression a “genuine scourge,” urging government action.
Despite legal tools available, Ottawa’s delays are causing frustration among advocates like Gloria Fung and Dennis Molinaro. Fung warns the government’s inaction offers foreign agents a “green light,” while Molinaro stresses the urgency of protecting Canadian citizens from foreign-state intimidation.
Zhang remains defiant. “Canadians will protect me from the Chinese government’s hand. I truly believe that.”
Swifteradio.com
