Digital Compliance
Important compliance information about digital campaigning
Guidance on digital imprints, copyright and social media
Digital Imprints
Since 1st November 2023, it has been a UK-wide legal requirement for imprints to be included on digital material all year round - not just during the election period.
Below is HQ's guide on how to be compliant.
Copyright and Intellectual Property
Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly common for local parties and groups to receive enforcement notices for infringement of copyright on photographs they have used.
These notices have financial penalties attached, ranging from £350, to over £1,500.
Please only utilise images that you have permission to use in your campaign literature, on your party website, in your emails and on social media. Even if you think they will not be seen outside of your local party / group, you must own the copyright.
Remember - just because another local party / Lib Dem group has used an image, it doesn’t mean that you have permission to use the same photo.
Copyright Scams
Please be aware that there are phishing scams circulating which involve copyright infringement claims.
Scams are constantly evolving and becoming more sophisticated, so we all need to be on alert.
Look out for these common signs:
- Suspicious sender email addresses
- Poor grammar and spelling
- Generic greetings
- Links and attachments
Most well known companies such as PA Media and Alamy do not ask you to download attachments or click on links, other than a visible URL link to a Party website.
If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of a copyright email, please forward to compliance@libdems.org.uk and we can check it for you.
How do I legally use photographs?
Take your own photos:
If the person who took the photograph gives you permission to use it, that is fine. This includes photos taken by campaigners, activists and candidates. Therefore we encourage you to take lots of photos of campaigning to use in your marketing / promotional materials.
It is important that you have the consent of everyone in the photograph to use it for campaigning purposes. If a child is in the picture, their parent or guardian must give consent - here’s a link to the Photo Consent Form.
Use Lib Dem photo resources:
You’re welcome to use the Party’s own stock of images of Lib Dem activities and events, which are stored in the Campaign Hub.
If you don’t have access, you can join here (using the email address your membership is registered to).
Stock images on the Hub can be found via: Campaign Hub > Campaigns & Elections > Photos > Stock Images
Use royalty-free photos:
You can use the following websites to search for royalty-free images that do not require explicit permission for usage. However, these are better suited for sourcing generic images rather than Lib Dem specific photos:
Social Media
It’s essential that your website and social media pages are compliant.
The Digital and Data Protection Teams have put together a guide to what you must consider with regards to UK GDPR when maintaining an online presence and interacting with users.
Another important aspect of social networking is advertising and VAT - particularly during elections. Below are step-by-step instructions to ensure you pay VAT on any adverts paid for on Facebook and Instagram.
We hope the above helps you stay on the right side of the law and avoid any fines!
Further help:
- Compliance issues - compliance@libdems.org.uk
- Data protection: data.protection@libdems.org.uk
- Campaign resources / materials - campaigners@libdems.org.uk
- Website and social media queries - digital@libdems.org.uk
