Restricting the Flow of Election Results in the Internet Era? Look North

The Canadian Broadcast Service offers this fascinating report, which begins: “When radio and television begin reporting election results region by region on Monday night, CBC.ca and other websites will be handcuffed by federal law: No results till 10 p.m. ET…By law, results cannot be transmitted to parts of the country where polls remain open. Elections Canada believes results from Atlantic and Central Canada could influence the way people in Western Canada vote. That means that websites – which by their nature can be seen anywhere in the country – can’t post figures until the polls close in the West. In practical terms, however, it isn’t clear how the law can stop the flow of information via the internet, BlackBerries, e-mail and satellite TV and radio.”

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