bobbyw24
05-13-2010, 06:07 PM
By: KATHLEEN MILLER
Associated Press
05/13/10 7:14 PM EDT
ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Political candidates in Maryland may be required to clearly identify their campaign when using social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Jared DeMarinis, candidacy and campaign finance director for Maryland's Board of Elections, said he is drafting regulations now to require candidates clearly label their campaign's social media accounts, as they do with other forms of communication. DeMarinis said such rules will help protect the public from misinformation and candidates from people who may try to tarnish their reputation by establishing false accounts in their name.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:jGTeQeE8hvY07M:http://www.tcd.ie/disability/projects/DS3/images/facebook.jpg
"Everyone is now using sites like Facebook and Twitter to get campaign messages out and talk about issues," DeMarinis said. "Maryland campaign law was written before these kinds of media were available and we're trying to develop regulations to help guide and bring clarity."
The Federal Election Commission has ruled that campaign regulations do not apply to most Internet activity, except for financial issues like paid political advertising on someone else's website. Several other states, however, are also considering whether they need new rules governing the use of social media in campaigns.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/md-may-regulate-campaign-use-of-social-media-93699889.html#ixzz0nrEsgo9N
Associated Press
05/13/10 7:14 PM EDT
ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Political candidates in Maryland may be required to clearly identify their campaign when using social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Jared DeMarinis, candidacy and campaign finance director for Maryland's Board of Elections, said he is drafting regulations now to require candidates clearly label their campaign's social media accounts, as they do with other forms of communication. DeMarinis said such rules will help protect the public from misinformation and candidates from people who may try to tarnish their reputation by establishing false accounts in their name.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:jGTeQeE8hvY07M:http://www.tcd.ie/disability/projects/DS3/images/facebook.jpg
"Everyone is now using sites like Facebook and Twitter to get campaign messages out and talk about issues," DeMarinis said. "Maryland campaign law was written before these kinds of media were available and we're trying to develop regulations to help guide and bring clarity."
The Federal Election Commission has ruled that campaign regulations do not apply to most Internet activity, except for financial issues like paid political advertising on someone else's website. Several other states, however, are also considering whether they need new rules governing the use of social media in campaigns.
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/md-may-regulate-campaign-use-of-social-media-93699889.html#ixzz0nrEsgo9N