Maryland Code, ELECTION LAW 13-401.1
Terms Used In Maryland Code, ELECTION LAW 13-401.1
- including: means includes or including by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. See
- Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
- state: means :
(1) a state, possession, territory, or commonwealth of the United States; or
(2) the District of Columbia. See
(2) “Bot” means an automated online account where all or substantially all of the actions or posts of that account are not the result of a person.
(3) “Online” means appearing on any public-facing Internet website, web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.
(b) (1) This section applies to any candidate, campaign finance entity, person required to register under § 13-306, § 13-307, or § 13-309.2 of this title, or an agent of a candidate, campaign finance entity, or person required to register under § 13-306, § 13-307, or § 13-309.2 of this title.
(2) In addition to the requirements under §§ 13-401 and 13-403 of this subtitle, a person subject to this section that uses a bot to publish, distribute, or disseminate campaign material online to another person in the State for the purpose of influencing an election shall disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner on the campaign material that the person is using a bot to publish, distribute, or disseminate the campaign material.
(3) If a person subject to this section violates the requirement under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the State Board may seek to remove the bot.
(c) This section does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including web hosting and Internet service providers.