Manitoba government mulls recommendation to crack down on election disinformation

By The Canadian Press on December 2, 2024.

Matt Wiebe, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province of Manitoba, Minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation is sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Anita Neville at a Premier and cabinet swearing-in ceremony in Winnipeg, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government is considering expanding its election law to ban disinformation about election workers, the electoral system and more.

Justice Minister Matt Wiebe says he’s especially concerned about artificial intelligence and so-called “deepfake” videos that can make people appear to say or do things they didn’t.

The provincial Elections Act already bans people from disseminating false information about candidates, impersonating election officials and more.

Penalties include up to a $10,000 fine and a year in jail.

Manitoba’s chief electoral officer, Shipra Verma, says the law should be expanded to also ban objectively false information about election officials, the electoral process, the equipment used in elections and more.

Wiebe says the NDP government is considering the recommendations in Verma’s latest annual report, which also calls for a ban on false information about voter eligibility and forged material that falsely claims to be from a candidate or party.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2024.