Adelaide City Councillor Alexander Hyde accused of using fake Facebook profile

A prominent Adelaide City councillor has been accused of using a fake Facebook account – as he explains why he’s done so.

Adelaide City Councillor Alexander Hyde has been accused of using a “false identity” on Facebook during the council elections.

Mr Hyde said he has never shied away from the fact that he uses his middle name for his personal page, which he renamed after being elected in 2018.

“Having received death threats and unsolicited oral sex offers from constituents I thought it best to make it harder to find me on social media,” he said. “Changing your first names around is quite a common practice to do this.”

Peta Martin, daughter of North Adelaide Councillor Phillip Martin, questioned in posts why he continued to post under a “pseudonym”.

Adelaide City Councillor Alexander Hyde has been accused as using a fake Facebook account during the election campaign. Supplied

Alexander Hyde at the Adelaide Town Hall. Picture: Matt Turner

“What gave me away? Presumably the clear photo of my face on the profile,” Mr Hyde said.

“It bears a striking resemblance to the 20,000 election flyers I have circulated over the past few weeks.

“It really is the silly season for some candidates and their supporters.”

The Electoral Commission of SA said it had not received any complaint on the issue. However, a large percentage of complaints during this year’s campaign had related to the use of campaigning on social media.

Under law, any electoral material calculated to affect the outcome of an election or poll published on a person’s social media must be authorised on the ‘about’ section.

If posting on someone else’s social media, the authorisation must be in the actual post.