CREATING AN ONLINE WORLD WHERE
FACTS PREVAIL OVER FICTION.
CREATING AN ONLINE
WORLD WHERE
FACTS PREVAIL
OVER FICTION.
Truth Matters Campaign
strengthening democracy in the digital age
The Truth Matters campaign was launched by Praful Nargund and is backed by politicians and peers from across the political spectrum with a collective aim to clean up social media. This is a minimal but critical change: we are not reopening the Online Safety Act (OSA), nor are we proposing new restrictions on free speech. Our aim is to update existing electoral law so that it is effective in the digital world.
Praful Nargund
The challenge
Disinformation is undermining public trust and distorting elections. While the Online Safety Act tackles many online harms, it doesn’t directly cover electoral disinformation. In today’s digital world, false claims can spread rapidly on social media, threatening the integrity of democratic processes. This loophole leaves UK elections vulnerable and demands action.
The proposal
We propose a focused amendment to the Elections Bill, adding electoral disinformation to the Online Safety Act’s list of harms. Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act (1983) already bans false statements about candidates, but in reality is often not enforced. This amendment to the Online Safety Bill would introduce an explicit mechanism for policing that law. The amendment would apply Section 106 to online platforms, clarify Ofcom’s enforcement role, protect free speech and avoid criminalising any speech not already illegal. This is a simple update to ensure existing laws work in today’s online environment.
FAQs
Are we reopening the Online Safety Act?
No. The OSA already criminalises online harms and mandates platform and Ofcom responsibility. We are not seeking to amend the OSA.
Is this about policing free speech?
No. The proposal does not change what is legal or illegal to say. There is already significant case law and legislation on what constitutes ‘disinformation’ in elections- this legislative change just ensures these rules can be enforced effectively online as well as offline.
What about foreign interference?
This is already addressed within the Online Safety Act’s list of harms. This proposal complements those protections by reinforcing democratic safeguards specific to UK elections.