AI-generated deepfake image falsely links Canadian PM Carney to Epstein
Conservative social media users spread an AI-generated deepfake image falsely depicting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney with Jeffrey Epstein to suggest he was implicated in Epstein's sex trafficking scandal. The image showed visible signs of digital manipulation and circulated during Carney's campaign to become Liberal Party leader.
What happened
A purported AI-generated deepfake image showing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a swimming pool with Jeffrey Epstein circulated on social media in January 2025. Conservative Canadian and U.S. social media users shared the image with false claims that Carney was implicated in Epstein's child sex trafficking scandal.
The image first appeared online in January when Justin Trudeau announced his resignation. It went viral after Carney won the vote for leader of the Liberal Party on March 9. A conservative X user posted the image on January 28, 2025, superimposed with text claiming Carney had connections to Epstein, garnering 105,800 views and 2,400 likes. An Instagram conservative account posted the image on March 10 with the text 'Did you know Mark Carney is the first Canadian Prime Minister with known Jeffrey Epstein connections?'
Reported impact
The false claims and deepfake image were spread to suggest Carney had ties to Epstein's sex trafficking operations, potentially damaging his reputation during his campaign to become Prime Minister.
Index analysis
The image bore multiple signs of digital manipulation, including an improbably curved woman's wrist in the background and Carney's misshaped hand. The closest apparent link between Carney and Epstein is an August 2013 photo of Carney standing next to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's confidante, which was republished on January 10, 2025.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.