A Canadian task force said on Friday that malicious news articles originating on Chinese social media tried to disparage former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who is running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party.

A Canadian task force reported that malicious news articles originating from Chinese social media attempted to discredit former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a candidate to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal

Chrystia Freeland's leadership campaign has been targeted by "co-ordinated and malicious activity" traced back to a WeChat account accused of having ties to the Chinese government, according to the task force set up to monitor foreign election interference.

A task force found that WeChat accounts linked to the Chinese government launched "coordinated" and "malicious" content against Chrystia Freeland who is in the running to replace Justin Trudeau as PM.

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,