Manitoba’s Premier, Wab Kinew, has confirmed that the province is working on a new bill aimed at safeguarding provincial elections from various forms of interference, including foreign influence, manipulated digital media, and disinformation campaigns. The proposed legislation, set to be introduced in early 2025, seeks to ensure free and fair elections in the province.
Tackling the Threat of Digital Manipulation
In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, Kinew stressed the importance of protecting democracy from modern threats such as “deepfakes”—manipulated images or videos designed to mislead voters. He explained, “I think there’s a lot of examples that … concern us about having free and fair elections, which to me is one of our most important democratic rights.” The bill will address these issues and expand upon Manitoba’s existing Elections Act, which already prohibits the dissemination of false information about candidates and impersonating election officials.
While the current law includes penalties such as fines up to $10,000 and a year in prison for offenders, the new bill will broaden its scope to tackle the growing challenge posed by misinformation in the digital age.
Expanding the Scope of Election Protection
Manitoba’s Chief Electoral Officer, Shipra Verma, recently called for an expansion of the provincial Elections Act to cover additional forms of disinformation, particularly those concerning the electoral process itself. In her annual report, Verma suggested that the law should include prohibitions on false information regarding voter eligibility, voter registration, and the equipment used in elections. Furthermore, the law would address the circulation of forged materials that misrepresent election officials, candidates, or political parties.
Kinew expressed his commitment to reviewing these recommendations, acknowledging the need to adapt to evolving technologies. “We’ve thought about foreign interference. We’ve also thought about artificial intelligence and deepfakes and all the content that’s floating out on the web now and how do we need to grapple with that,” he said.
Aligning with Federal Efforts
Manitoba’s efforts align with broader national efforts to modernize election laws in the face of technological advances. A bill currently under consideration in Parliament proposes updates to the Canada Elections Act, particularly in relation to digital media. The federal bill aims to clarify that deepfakes are covered under existing laws banning impersonation and the publication of false statements designed to sway elections.
Additionally, the federal bill proposes prohibiting untraceable political contributions, including crypto assets, money orders, and prepaid gift cards, further addressing the challenges posed by digital currencies in election financing.
Calls for Increased Transparency
Advocacy group Democracy Watch has voiced support for further measures to ensure transparency in Canadian elections. Among its recommendations is the requirement for third-party organizations, such as interest groups, to disclose their donors for election-related activities and only use funds raised from Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
With Manitoba’s commitment to tackling digital misinformation and foreign interference, the proposed legislation is set to be a significant step in securing the integrity of provincial elections in the digital era.
