Government committed to protecting elections from 'malign or hidden interference'

Legal powers to regulate online political advertising not yet in place

Powers will allow Electoral Commission to order social media platforms to take down misinformation, disinformation or material damaging to elections and also enable it to regulate political advertising online.

The Government is committed to putting in place a “robust regime” to protect elections from “malign or hidden interference” and regulate online political advertising, the Department of Housing has said.

But it accepted the legal powers to implement this commitment were not yet in place, including for Friday’s general election.