Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Online Political Advertising: Regulation

Thursday 16 November 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Committee has not had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on regulating online political advertising.
  • The Elections Act 2022 requires most online political campaign material to carry a digital imprint.
  • The Electoral Commission recommends social media libraries as a legal requirement to provide more information to voters.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Democracy & Elections
Context

There are concerns about the regulation of online political advertising before an election. The question arises from discussions around digital imprints required by the Elections Act 2022.

Question

What recent discussions has the Committee had with the Electoral Commission on the regulation of online political advertising before an election?

Answer from Cat Smith

The Committee has not had recent discussions with the Electoral Commission on the matters raised. The Elections Act 2022 introduced a requirement for most online political campaign material to carry a digital imprint. The Commission has said that digital imprints will improve trust and confidence in digital campaigns at future elections and referendums in the UK. It has published statutory guidance to help parties and campaigners understand and comply with this new requirement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Recent discussions between the Committee and the Electoral Commission on the regulation of online political advertising

How: The Committee Has Not Had Recent Discussions

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Q2 Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Democracy & Elections
Context

Concerns about misleading claims in targeted online political ads that politicians might not be aware of. The issue is the need for transparency and veracity of these advertisements.

Question

Targeted online advertising can sometimes contain very misleading claims about Members and other politicians. Members might not even be aware that an advert has been sent out. Will the Commission look at some sort of process whereby there is a way for all adverts to be registered, so that people can check their transparency and veracity?

Answer from Cat Smith

The Commission has previously recommended that social media libraries should be a legal requirement. That would provide voters with more information about who is being targeted online, but it would be for the Government to come forward with the legislation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Implementing a registration process for online political advertisements

How: The Government Needs To Come Forward With Legislation

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