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.

Canadian security officials say an "information operation" against Liberal leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland was traced to a popular WeChat news account linked to China.

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.