# A deepfake network stole creators' faces to spread trade-war falsehoods to Canadians

> McGill researchers found 293 TikTok and Instagram accounts with 22.1 million plays. TikTok's AI label caught 4% of them. Here's how it works and how to spot it.

- Published: 2026-11-13T15:24:00.000Z
- By: The Circuit Staff
- Type: News
- Topics: Security, AI
- URL: https://thecircuit.ca/posts/2026-11-13-stolen-faces-deepfake-network-canada/

A network of at least 293 TikTok and Instagram accounts has been using AI-altered videos of real influencers, some of them Canadian, to push divisive and often false claims about the U.S.–Canada trade war, according to a [report from McGill University's Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy](https://mediatechdemocracy.com/en/publications/stolen-faces_2026/) published Thursday. Since August 7, the accounts posted 3,201 videos that were played 22.1 million times. All of them were still active as of November 11.

[The Globe and Mail](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-ai-deepfake-campaign-stole-influencers-faces-trade-war-alberta/) reports that Canadian creators whose faces were used include Kristina Collins (Kallmekris), Jasmin Laine and Ron Butler. TikTok told the Globe it has banned the accounts named in the report.

## How the videos are made

The network takes a few seconds of a real creator's own video, adds an AI-generated voice and uses AI to redraw the mouth so it matches a new script. In one example, an American creator's video about dating was turned into commentary on Canadian job losses, tariffs and Alberta's referendum. The researchers identified 226 distinct people whose faces were used.

- **AI voices:** a speech detector rated the narration as AI-generated in 94% of videos.
- **AI scripts:** about 46% of scripts were rated as entirely machine-written.
- **Missed labels:** TikTok's AI label caught 22 of 24 videos with fully synthetic avatars, but only 4% of those built on real people's footage. None disclosed AI use.

## What it says, and who's behind it

Most videos (84%) are about Canada, and trade-war content draws 71% of views. The most-played story, a Trump "48-hour ultimatum" that Prime Minister Carney supposedly answered by cancelling  billion in U.S. defence contracts, never happened; it was played 5.1 million times. The network argues both sides of the trade fight, but domestic videos that take a side are almost always against the Carney government, and 130 of 187 videos about the Alberta referendum promoted separation.

The researchers don't know who runs it or why. Posting and account registration times point to East or Southeast Asia, and some accounts have Chinese-language settings or a registration in China, a lead the report calls limited. The accounts show no sign of making money.

**Why it matters:** Only 6.3% of commenters suggested the videos were fake; many talked to the narrator as a real person. Platform labels won't save you here. If a creator you recognize suddenly posts a political "breaking news" clip, check their own verified account, and be wary of dramatic claims (ultimatums, deadlines, cancelled deals) that no news outlet is reporting.