Electoral Reform Act 2022

Monitoring compliance for the purposes of this Part

129. (1) Without prejudice to section 133 , the Commission may, for the purpose of performing any of its functions under this Part, monitor or make arrangements with other suitable persons for the carrying out of monitoring on its behalf of, the placement, display, promotion or dissemination of online political advertisements and related matters on online platforms by buyers of online political advertisements and of compliance by online platforms and buyers of online political advertisements with their obligations under this Part.

(2) Without prejudice to section 16 , the Commission may engage any person to assist it in the performance of its functions under subsection (1) and, for that purpose, it may do any or all of the following:

(a) enter into a contract with any person on such terms and conditions and for such period as the Commission considers appropriate;

(b) pay out of the funds at its disposal, to any person referred to in paragraph (a), such fees (if any) or allowances for expenses (if any) incurred by the person as the Commission may determine.

(3) Any person may provide to the Commission information concerning any matter in respect of which the person has reason to believe that there may have been, or may be, a contravention of the requirements of this Part including in relation to—

(a) an online political advertisement placed, displayed, promoted or disseminated on an online platform and its accompanying transparency notice,

(b) an online archive or library established and maintained by an online platform under section 121 (5),

(c) an online platform with respect to the placement, display, promotion or dissemination by it of an online political advertisement, or

(d) a buyer of an online political advertisement with respect to an online political advertisement purchased by the buyer and which an online platform has placed, displayed, promoted or disseminated on its platform.