The North Dakota Senate has passed a bill, House Bill 1204, aimed at combating false and misleading information in political advertisements. The bill, which originally focused on including social media in the state’s existing laws against false advertising, was amended on the Senate floor to also include text messages and phone calls as mediums where false information cannot be spread.
Sen. Sean Cleary, who offered the amendment, highlighted the need for the law to adapt to new forms of communication used in election campaigns. The bill passed with an overwhelming 45-1 vote and will now go back to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Cleary’s motivation for the bill stemmed from personal experience after being involved in a campaign that was the target of misleading political communications. The bill aims to hold bad actors accountable for spreading false information during political campaigns and uphold the integrity of elections.
Despite concerns about the enforcement of the bill, with state’s attorneys having to determine if violations should be pursued in court, Cleary believes it is a necessary step to address the misuse of false material in campaigns. The bill serves as a warning to individuals engaging in deceptive practices during elections, signaling that there may be consequences for spreading false information.
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