Video of Mark Carney announcing new auto regulations is AI-generated

"What a guy!! Canada is doomed," reads the caption of a May 4, 2025 Facebook video.

In the clip, two users react to footage of Carney supposedly announcing new vehicle regulations going into effect on June 1. The purported rules include the phasing out of cars manufactured before 2000 and the banning of "non-compliant window tints" and truck lifts. 

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Screenshot of a Facebook video taken May 5, 2025

Different versions of the clip allegedly depicting Carney making the announcement spread on Facebook, Instagram and X, often accompanied by users' commentary on how they believe Canada is infringing on citizen's personal freedoms after the country's Liberals won a rare fourth mandate in the recent federal election.

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Screenshot of an X post taken May 5, 2025

As oil-rich Canada grapples with its role in responding to climate change, claims about Carney's stance on how to reduce the nation's carbon footprint have already generated misinformation.

In 2023, before Carney became prime minister, the Canadian government introduced a plan (archived here) to phase out new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. Automakers and others have pushed back against the feasibility of the restrictions. 

Unlike Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney did not signal plans to drop the regulations on new cars and the clip circulating on social media does not show legitimate footage of him making new auto policy announcements.

A watermark seen on most versions of the clip advertises it as a creation of Fish.Audio, a text-to-speech service which clones voices using artificial intelligence. The videos also include the name of a TikTok account, "smart.feed," which is no longer available (archived here) but previously shared AI-generated content about Canadian current events fact-checked by AFP.

A reverse image search of the generated clip of Carney reveals a visual match to a press conference the prime minister gave March 27, 2025 (archived here). In both he stands at a brown podium with Canadian flags behind him and wears the same tie and lapel pin.

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Screenshot of an X post taken May 6, 2025 with highlights added by AFP

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Screenshot of a YouTube video taken May 6, 2025 with highlights added by AFP

The press conference focused on Canada's response to American tariffs which could affect the auto industry, particularly in Ontario province. In the full footage available on YouTube from the Canadian Cable Public Affairs Channel, there is no reference to the end of sales for certain vehicles or other auto regulations.

After the Liberals built their campaign around Carney's pitch that he was the best candidate to handle US President Donald Trump's sovereignty threats and a trade war, the Canadian leader traveled to Washington May 6 to discuss Canada-US relations.

Read more of AFP's reporting on misinformation in Canada here.