New rules push for transparency of political posts on social media
POLITICAL campaigners will have to declare their position when posting online material under new online transparency rules being considered by ministers.
The regulations would apply to Facebook posts shared with friends and
Tweets to their followers, when sharing material intended to “achieve the electoral success” of political parties and candidates during an election or referendum.
Ministers have launched a consultation on requiring “digital imprints” for such posts online, in the way leaflets and posters already have to be labelled.
Political parties, candidates and registered campaigners posting online material will need to state clearly who they are – even when sharing a link to an article which was deemed as aiming to achieve “electoral success”.
The police will be responsible for enforcing the measures, and will be able to issue fines similar to those that exist for leafleting and non-digital campaigning. The Electoral Commission is expected to issue guidance on what sort of posts would require disclosure.
The changes apply both to adverts taken out on social media and blogs, and to posts or emails shared with online friends or followers.
Chloe Smith, the constitution minister, said the proposals represented a “big step forward”. Writing for telegraph.co.uk, she says: “Because campaigning can happen at any time, these rules will be in force year-round – and will apply regardless of the country content is being promoted from. The proposals would lead to one of the most comprehensive ‘digital imprint’ regimes in the world today.”
Ms Smith added that the measures would also “help tackle intimidation in public life, by ensuring that campaigners are more accountable for the content they post online”. Digital imprints were recommended by the Commons committee on standards in public life in its review into intimidation.
Rebecca Stimson, head of UK public policy for Facebook said: “We have long called for updated rules for the era of digital political campaigning and so we welcome the consultation.”