As we mentioned in the summer edition of the Compliance Connections newsletter, as well as in a recent post, many political candidates are turning to new media to attract the interest of younger voters. While electronic platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can bolster campaigns, misuse of these tools can cause a legal headache for political office hopefuls.
As recently reported by The Columbus Dispatch, two Ohio gubernatorial candidates’ use of their personal Twitter accounts to promote their current campaigns is raising legal questions. Because public and private channels of communication are often crossed, many public officials and voters have questions about the use of social media in a political setting. As State Auditor Yost’s office noted in the article, this is an “emerging area of law.” As such, the lines are not always clear and candidates should use caution.
