Warnings over sharing false election information

The Jersey Electoral Authority is warning islanders to be "careful in believing what is written" in online posts.

The body overseeing Jersey's general election said it had received complaints about misleading comments being made online and it was reviewing certain websites and social media pages.

It said its code of conduct made it clear that candidates and their supporters should not "share false or misleading information about the election, candidates or any group or body associated with the election".

The authority said any message that could be viewed as "indecent, obscene or menacing" by a member of the public could be referred to the police.

It said the misinformation included "attacks on individuals, and claims about those individuals that are untrue and/or menacing in character".

The authority said misleading information could become "a poison" and threatened to "diminish the whole process of elections... [and] "ultimately harming the democratic process".

It said: "We all have to exercise care online, especially when the source is uncertain and where the primary purpose of the post is to shock or abuse another person, party or cause."

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