The growing threat of digital mis/disinformation is not limited to the national scale. This article details some of the legislative gaps in protecting municipal elections from these disinformation campaigns and some of the ways to stop it.
Such gaps exist in Ontario’s *Municipal Elections Act* which lacks a framework for handling digital disinformation, except for candidates and third-party advertisers who are held to scrutiny.
Other provinces, such as Manitoba and British Columbia, have been more proactive in challenging disinformation. Manitoba for instance can issue up to $20,000 fines per day for electoral disinformation, including the usage of “deepfakes.” While Elections BC can investigate a candidates campaign advertisement, issue penalties and order the removal of unauthorized advertisements.
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The growing threat of digital mis/disinformation is not limited to the national scale. This article details some of the legislative gaps in protecting municipal elections from these disinformation campaigns and some of the ways to stop it.
Such gaps exist in Ontario’s *Municipal Elections Act* which lacks a framework for handling digital disinformation, except for candidates and third-party advertisers who are held to scrutiny.
Other provinces, such as Manitoba and British Columbia, have been more proactive in challenging disinformation. Manitoba for instance can issue up to $20,000 fines per day for electoral disinformation, including the usage of “deepfakes.” While Elections BC can investigate a candidates campaign advertisement, issue penalties and order the removal of unauthorized advertisements.
!ping Can