Tweet this: Social media banned at Stephen Harper campaign events

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      The Conservative party apparently doesn’t have a lot of faith in its followers.

      Ahead of the October federal election, it has banned people attending Stephen Harper events from posting messages or photographs to social media, iPolitics reports.

      “Holder (of the confirmation of registration) is prohibited from transmitting or aiding in transmitting any description, account, picture or reproduction of the Event,” reads information related to an event scheduled for August 10.

      That means no Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat posts with the country's prime minister.

      Anybody who breaks the ban on social media can be evicted from the event.

      The rules seem especially strict given the only Canadian citizens allowed to attend a stop on Stephen Harper’s campaign trail have already been hand-picked and screened by Conservative party officials.

      As previously reported by iPolitics, attendance at a Harper event is by invitation only.

      “You need to have been invited and if you don’t have a ticket then you’re not getting in,” Conservative party spokesperson Kory Teneycke recently told the online news outlet.

      While attendees cannot post photos of their own, they may still appear online in photographs. The arrangement people agree to by attending a Harper event states authorized staff are allowed to take pictures and those images may be broadcast online or in any medium.

      “Holder consents to the use by the producer of the Event, without compensation, of Holder’s image or likeness incidental to any transmission or reproduction of the Event,” it reads.

      The iPolitics report notes the federal Liberals and NDP have no similar restrictions on the use of social media at events featuring party leaders Justin Trudeau and Thomas Mulcair.

      So much for snapping that selfie with the PM.

      Update: On August 10, the Ottawa Citizen reported the Conservative party was backing down from its social media ban. Its practice of vetting attendees remains in effect.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      Justin Flontek

      Aug 10, 2015 at 12:34pm

      It's not like Harper can hide in a closet, during the whole campaign. Something's got to be done to appease his ridiculous levels of paranoia.

      Waste of time

      Aug 10, 2015 at 7:30pm

      Oh dear. This is a real big deal. I'm so impressed that this has been reported. Surely this will change the votes of many.

      Brucifer

      Aug 10, 2015 at 9:37pm

      The Malevolent Traitor was 100% Correct.
      I no longer recognize this Country.
      One day, his Autopsy shall reveal; NO HUMAN DNA FOUND

      Demographics

      Aug 11, 2015 at 7:28am

      Other than looking at pictures of their grandchildren on Facebook his prime constituents don't use social media.

      cathy

      Aug 11, 2015 at 10:04am

      To attend a rally with Harper you need to:
      Be invited
      Submit to a background check
      Submit to a search
      And don't bring any friends 'cause they won't be let in

      The rumour is there will be a rally w/ Harper today in "Richmond Centre" -exact location is not disclosed.
      Should be a fun event.

      Beatnuck

      Aug 11, 2015 at 4:01pm

      "You need to have been invited and if you don’t have a ticket then you’re not getting in.”

      Well, fuck you, too!

      ho hum

      Aug 11, 2015 at 6:17pm

      The man has obviously lost the plot, but it wouldn't surprise me if he got reelected anyway.
      The closest thing we have to a middle ground is the NDP, and moderates are being asked to cede a lot in order to vote for them....but there's hope they'll see a bigger loss in voting for the conservatives.
      Polarized extremes are here and so entrenched that we don't even recognize it.