SA election 2018: South Australian candidates Simon Jones and Craig Marsh targeted by fake news site

TWO South Australian political candidates have been smeared by a fake news site — but are powerless to do anything to stop it.

AN SA Best candidate is powerless to stop a fake news website that wrongly suggests he lit a rubbish fire in a suburban Adelaide street.

Morphett candidate Simon Jones said he was alerted to the fake news by Liberal MP Duncan McFetridge. His investigations to find who spread the vicious rumour has so far been unsuccessful.

SA Best candidate Simon Jones is powerless to stop a fake news site.

Mr Jones said he had identified that the site is registered with an internet service provider in Sweden, but had been unable to find out more.

“The issue is that obviously we would take legal action if we could work out who’s responsible for it,” Mr Jones said.

Liberal Leader Steven Marshall with Craig Marsh, candidate for Mount Gambier. Picture: Twitter

“It’s a serious issue, you can’t let people get away with publishing news that’s clearly fake.”

The site rewrites legitimate news reports to target seemingly random politicians and identities across the world.

It also smears Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier Craig Marsh.

Mr Jones said the reputational damage the fake news could cause him was “huge”.

“You don’t want your good name sullied,” he said.

“I’m just a person saying I’m trying to make a difference to South Australia and here’s someone trying to drag me down.”