Cross-party figures unite to call for transparency in ‘Wild West’ online campaigningPolitical figures across the spectrum have backed our calls for reform of Britain’s ‘wild west’ election campaign rules following the launch of our latest report.Posted 25 Sep 2020
ERS reveals the scale of secretive online campaigning during last year’s electionDemocracy in the Dark – our new report commissioned from two of the UK’s leading election finance academics reveals a major rise in online spending during the 2019 general election – with little transparency over...Posted 24 Sep 2020
Our elections watchdog needs strengthening, not scrappingYou’d think given the rising tide of disinformation, dodgy donations and dark ads online, the government might be getting serious about empowering our elections watchdog. Instead, the Conservative Party has actually issued a call to...Posted 03 Sep 2020
Britain moves closer to shutting down ‘dark ads’ – but we need action nowThe government has today unveiled new proposals that would require parties and political campaigners to display a digital imprint on online political advertisements. This would bring online ads in line with offline election material, which...Posted 12 Aug 2020
Twitter boycott: When is the government going to act to tackle ‘Online Harms’ to our democracy?It has been well over a year since the government published proposals to tackle 'Online Harms' - and we've seen no legislation put on the table. Nor have we seen any action on 'dark ads'...Posted 28 Jul 2020
Government inaction has left the door ‘wide open’ to foreign interference in UK politicsElectoral loopholes are leaving the door wide open to foreign interference, the ERS’ Darren Hughes has said, following the release of the Intelligence and Security Committee’s Russia Report this week. Darren Hughes told the BBC...Posted 23 Jul 2020
Parliamentary committee slams ministers’ inaction on UK’s analogue-age electoral lawThe government needs to move swiftly on modernising Britain’s ‘dangerously outdated’ electoral rules.Posted 30 Jun 2020
Voters are worried about false information online – and political parties need to listen upThe coronavirus pandemic has seen waves of misinformation spread around the globe – and the UK is no exception...Posted 18 Jun 2020
New inquiry launched into Britain’s ‘wild west’ electoral lawsAnyone with an interest in bringing campaign rules into the 21st century can make a submission.Posted 08 Jun 2020
Lies, damned lies, and the lockdown: Stopping misinformation amid a pandemicIn the middle of a global health pandemic, misinformation can prove fatal.Posted 30 Apr 2020