Bill 99: Fair and Free Elections Act, 2026

This bill primarily affects businesses involved in political advertising, digital marketing, media production, and social media platforms operating in Ontario. If you run an advertising agency, digital communications firm, or media outlet that creates or publishes political ads, you'll need to ensure any AI-generated political advertisements include a clear disclosure statement identifying the use of artificial intelligence. Organizations and platforms that publish or transmit election-related content — including social media companies, news outlets, and online publishers — face a new prohibition on knowingly spreading false or misleading content about candidates' eligibility, election dates, polling locations, or election results, with a 12-hour compliance window if the Chief Electoral Officer issues a takedown direction. Size matters less than the nature of the work: even a solo digital marketer or freelance content creator producing political ads using AI tools would need to comply with the new labeling requirements.