A new initiative has been launched to combat the rise of online disinformation in politics, with the support of senior MPs, police commissioners, and local government leaders. Led by former Labour candidate Praful Nargund, the Truth Matters campaign aims to address the dissemination of false and deceptive content on social media and digital platforms, especially during elections, where disinformation poses a direct threat to democracy.

The campaign has garnered bipartisan backing from parliamentarians and notable figures such as Dame Angela Eagle MP, as well as fellow Labour MPs Phil Brickell and Tom Rutland, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price, and local council leaders. Nargund established the initiative after encountering online disinformation during his candidacy in Islington North during the last general election.

Truth Matters is advocating for a specific amendment to the Elections Bill that would broaden the Online Safety Act to explicitly acknowledge electoral disinformation as a harmful online menace. Although Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act (1983) already prohibits the intentional dissemination of falsehoods about candidates, its enforcement is infrequent in practice.

In support of the campaign, Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, emphasized the gravity of online misinformation and its impact on democracy, institutions, and community safety. Dame Angela Eagle MP highlighted the significant challenge posed by the proliferation of online misinformation, stressing its detrimental effects on democracy, social cohesion, and individual well-being.

Praful Nargund, the founder of the campaign, expressed gratitude for the broad-based support across the political spectrum, underscoring the necessity of leadership at all levels of public life to combat online misinformation effectively.