Manitoba Considers Expanding Election Law to Address Disinformation

Proposed changes aim to combat false information about election workers, processes, and AI-generated content.

Manitoba's NDP government is reviewing recommendations to broaden the Elections Act to ban disinformation related to election workers, processes, and technology.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe has highlighted concerns about the growing threat of AI-generated deepfake videos and their potential impact on election integrity.
Current laws already prohibit spreading false information about candidates, impersonating election officials, and similar offenses, with penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and a year in jail.
Chief Electoral Officer Shipra Verma's report suggests banning false claims about voter eligibility, election equipment, and forged materials falsely attributed to candidates or parties.
The government has yet to announce when it might introduce legislation, though protecting democracy from disinformation and interference was emphasized in the recent throne speech.