Manitoba Proposes Tougher Law to Combat Election Disinformation
The Manitoba government is considering broadening its election law to explicitly prohibit the spread of disinformation about election workers, the electoral process, and related systems. The proposed amendments come in response to growing concerns about the impact of false information on the integrity of democratic processes, particularly in the face of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Canada’s province of Manitoba is contemplating a groundbreaking legislative change to bolster election integrity. The move stems from a recommendation by Shipra Verma, Manitoba’s Chief Electoral Officer. In her latest annual report, Verma advocated for strengthening existing law to explicitly address the spread of demonstrably false information concerning election administration.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe expressed particular concern about the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence and the proliferation of “deepfake” videos, which can convincingly manipulate visuals and audio, making people appear to say or do things they never did.
“It’s pretty unreal what can be done, and how easily maybe it can be done,” Wiebe remarked. “In the past, there maybe always was an opportunity to fake some things, but now the technology has made it so much easier to do.”
Wiebe emphasized the urgency to act, stating, “We want to extend those protections to our election workers and to the system and structure of the system.”
The existing provincial Elections Act already prohibits the dissemination of false information about candidates and impersonating election officials and carries penalties including fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to a year. The proposed amendments would expand these protections to encompass election officials, the voting process, election equipment, voter eligibility, and registration procedures.
Verma underscored the importance of proactively addressing the issue during her presentation to a legislative committee. “We consider that we need to make our legislation stronger to protect Manitobans… so that election integrity is not compromised through the use of disinformation, misinformation,” she stated.
While the timing for introducing a bill remains uncertain, the NDP government included a broad commitment to safeguard elections and democracy from external interference in its recent throne speech. This proposed Strengthening of Manitoba’s election laws reflects a global trend of increased scrutiny surrounding election integrity in the digital age.
The rise of social media and sophisticated disinformation campaigns has underscored the vulnerability of democratic processes to manipulation. Cases of false claims about election results in other jurisdictions, notably the United States, highlight the potential for division and erosion of public trust.
The proposed changes in Manitoba aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and confidence in the electoral process by setting clear legal boundaries against the spread of demonstrably false information.
What are the potential challenges or criticisms that this proposed law might face from those who oppose it?
## Manitoba Looks to Combat Election Disinformation with New Law
**Host:** Welcome back to the program. Today we’re discussing a proposed law in Manitoba aimed at tackling the growing problem of election disinformation. Joining us is… [Name of Alex Reed], a [Alex Reed Credentials/Expertise].
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is Manitoba proposing to do?
**Alex Reed:** Manitoba is considering changes to its election law to directly address the spread of disinformation related to elections ([1](https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/manitoba-news/manitoba-government-mulls-recommendation-to-crack-down-on-election-disinformation-9896299)). This includes false information about election workers, the voting process itself, and the systems that support elections.
**Host:** This comes at a time when we are seeing a lot of concern about the impact of misinformation online. What sparked this proposal in Manitoba?
**Alex Reed:** Well, this stems from a recommendation by Manitoba’s Chief Electoral Officer, Shipra Verma. She highlighted in her annual report the increasing threat that false information poses to the integrity of our elections ([1](https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/manitoba-news/manitoba-government-mulls-recommendation-to-crack-down-on-election-disinformation-9896299)).
**Host:** And what are some of the specific concerns driving this change?
**Alex Reed:** Justice Minister Matt Wiebe has expressed particular worry about the rise of artificial intelligence and the creation of so-called “deepfake” videos. These videos can convincingly make it appear as if someone is saying or doing something they didn’t ([1](https://www.thompsoncitizen.net/manitoba-news/manitoba-government-mulls-recommendation-to-crack-down-on-election-disinformation-9896299)). It’s a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and undermining trust in our democratic processes.
**Host:** So, what are the potential implications of this new law if it passes?
**Alex Reed:** It’s still early days, but this could be a significant step towards protecting our elections from harmful misinformation. It sends a clear message that spreading deliberate falsehoods about elections will not be tolerated.
**Host:** This is certainly a topic we will continue to follow. [Name of Alex Reed], thank you for joining us and sharing your insights.
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
