Offences and defences

If digital material which requires an imprint is published without one, then both

  • the promoter of the material
  • anyone else on whose behalf the material is published

may commit an offence under section 48(1) of the Elections Act.

It is a defence for a person charged with this offence to prove any of the following:

  • that the failure to comply was due to circumstances beyond their control, and that they took all reasonable steps, and exercised all due diligence, to ensure they did comply.
  • that they complied with this guidance
  • that in the case of the republication of material (see section Sharing and republishing):
    • the material had previously been published
    • it had not been materially altered when it was republished
    • they reasonably believed that the original material required an imprint under section 41 and complied with the requirements of that section
Last updated: 2 November 2023