New Canadian gov’t elections site claims to monitor what it considers ‘false,’ ‘misleading’ content
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‘ElectoFacts’ is an attempt by Elections Canada to point out ‘misconceptions.’
(LifeSiteNews) — Elections Canada, the agency in charge of the national elections that is legally mandated to be non-partisan, launched a new website it claims is geared to fight election misinformation and disinformation that it says has grown with the rise of “social media” use.
Called “ElectoFacts,” the website came online on January 9 and contains information said to be factual in an effort Elections Canada says is to clear up so-called “misconceptions” regarding Canada’s process.
According to Elections Canada, “ElectoFacts” is a “resource that Canadian electors can use to easily check whether the information they come across about Canada’s federal electoral process is true or not. ElectoFacts also offers information on how federal elections are run and the safeguards in place to protect them.”
“Canadians increasingly get information about elections from online sources, including social media platforms. Some studies show that social media users regularly encounter false or misleading election-related content through these platforms even when trying to find accurate information,” Elections Canada contends.
Elections Canada made a note that it is not an “arbiter of truth, nor do we monitor the accuracy of content distributed by the platforms of political parties and candidates.”
The agency says it can “provide correct information about the administration of federal elections.”
While Elections Canada may be non-partisan, the current Liberal federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pushed laws that some have warned could impact the press’ ability to cover future elections.
Over a week ago, LifeSiteNews reported that Canada’s official broadcast regulator might soon be producing draft rules for a pre-election “code of conduct” for newsrooms, which includes print and online journalists, thanks to the recent passage of federal internet censorship laws, an idea that has been blasted by some senators as an affront to freedom of the press.
Elections Canada claims new website highlights ‘eight categories of disinformation’
According to Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault, the new website is looking at “Building resilience against inaccurate information helps strengthen the overall health of democracy.”
The ElectoFacts website highlights what it says are eight categories of disinformation, which include vote by mail, foreign interference, and vote-counting.