Islanders are being warned that sharing misleading or attacking information about election candidates, groups or parties could mean a referral to the police, or a civil law case.
The Jersey Electoral Authority says misinformation, as well as 'menacing and untrue attacks' on individuals are being spread online, which go against the Election Code of Conduct.
In a statement, it says it has received complaints, and is reviewing various websites and social media sources, on which 'openly misleading information is being spread, including under website names that are themselves causing confusion.'
It says the misinformation also includes attacks on individuals, and claims about those individuals that are untrue and/or menacing in character.
In a statement, the JEA said:
Individuals who post message or other matter that could be viewed as indecent, obscene or menacing by a reasonable member of the public may be referred to the police.
It is open to those about whom untruths have been stated to seek advice regarding civil law remedies.
The JEA says that spreading false information 'threatens to diminish the whole process of elections' and that those who perpetrate falsehoods are 'not acting in the best interests of islanders' and are ultimately 'harming the democratic process.'
It's encouraging us to be careful in believing what we see on social media, especially when the source is uncertain and the purpose of the post is to 'shock or abuse another.'
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