As the Papua New Guinea elections approach there are increasing worries about the spread of false information.

The poll begins on July 2 and is set to conclude three weeks later, on July 22.

RNZ Pacific's PNG correspondent Scott Waide said while misinformation during elections is not new, it appears to be more co-ordinated and managed during this election.

Waide runs classes on identifying misinformation and malinformation - which is information that is correct but is used to inflict harm.

He said one item that appeared on social media, and which he has used in his classes, was a false claim the incumbent in the Bougainville regional seat, Peter Tsiamalili, had been shot dead.

He said even past information is being used to deceive.

"Another instance is of a photo of and candidates, Sylvia Pascoe and Gary Juffa, a very intimate photograph of them - they had a relationship before. So, this photo is coming out on the eve of polling, being spread by people with intentions to destroy their integrity and their chances of political office."

Electoral Commissioner under the microscope

There are also concerns about the performance of Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai.

This is a result of people with convictions standing as candidates.

Earlier this month the Supreme Court confirmed this was illegal but Waide said it was some time before Sinai did anything about it.

"Within that time a lot of prompting happened from the media, and members of the public on social media, and outside of social media, trying to prompt the Electoral Commissioner to at least say something or make a public statement.

"That resulted in a statement that came out later saying that former convicts could not run for office, but then it passed on the responsibility to the candidates themselves."

Police investigating discovery of uniforms

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the discovery of police and PNG defence uniforms on a chartered flight to Hela Province.

Police Commissioner David Manning said security forces intercepted and confiscated the uniforms on the flight from Port Moresby to Komo Airport in Hela.

Manning said a pistol found on a person who was meeting the flight has been confiscated.

He said police are trying to uncover who chartered the aircraft and what role the ground staff at the airport played.

Last week, a Highlands police commander issued instructions to the public to look out for people masquerading as police officers during the general elections starting next month.