Sec. 33.13.07.01. Definitions

A. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) “Agent” means a person acting on behalf of and in coordination with a political committee.

(2) Application Software.

(a) “Application software” means software designed to help the user to perform a single or multiple related specific tasks.

(b) “Application software” includes all terms descriptive of application software, including but not limited to “application” and “app.”

(3) “Authority line” has the meaning stated in Election Law Article, §13-401, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(4) “Barcode” includes a matrix code, 2d barcode, QR code, and 2d code.

(5) “Distribution” means the act or instance of sharing or sending campaign material or hyperlinks of campaign material to the public, or to a list of subscribers, by means of an electronic communication or online platform, the Internet, text messaging service, or software application.

(6) “Electronic media advertisement” means a qualifying paid digital communication, or other electronic communication in which campaign material is disseminated, distributed or published on social media, a micro-blog, the Internet, text messaging, an online platform, or other forms of electronic media other than radio, broadcast, cable or satellite television by a political committee.

(7) “Micro-blog” means a web service that allows the user to post and send either to a selected group of people or so that they can be viewed by anyone, short user-generated content which includes text messages, photos or videos.

(8) Political Committee.

(a) “Political committee” has the meaning stated in Election Law Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

(b) “Political committee” also includes:

(i) A candidate;

(ii) A person required to file an independent expenditure report pursuant to Election Law Article, §13-306, Annotated Code of Maryland;

(iii) A person required to file an electioneering communication report pursuant to Election Law Article, §13-307, Annotated Code of Maryland; or

(iv) Any entity or person required to register with the State Board under Election Law Article, Title 13, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland.

(9) Publication.

(a) “Publication” means the act or instance of making campaign material available to the public, or to a list of subscribers, including by means of an electronic communication or an online platform, the Internet, a text messaging service, or a software application.

(b) “Publication” includes displaying content on the Internet, updating webpages, posting blogs, and providing updates or posts on social media.

(10) “Social media” means an electronic medium where users may create and view user-generated content, such as uploaded or downloaded videos or still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, or email.