In the lead-up to the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has partnered with prominent online multinationals Google, Meta, TikTok and local non-profit organisation Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) to reduce the spread of disinformation.

The parties endorsed a Framework of Cooperation to preserve the integrity of information and the foundations of the country’s electoral processes.

The IEC has considered the effects that the rapid growth of digital media platforms, along with the corresponding surge of disinformation on social media platforms, has had on electoral processes.

“The dissemination of information has huge potential to undermine the fairness and credibility of elections. Credible information is the lifeblood of all democracies. Trustworthy information is crucial in the process that enables citizens to choose their leaders,” stressed Commission chairperson Mosotho Moepya.

He also noted the potential threats that disinformation could pose to the exercising of constitutional rights, particularly those of freedom of expression and access to credible information.

The IEC’s social media partners have applauded the Framework of Cooperation as it allows online platforms to implement policies and processes such as content removal, advisory warnings and delisting to address disinformation.

“Google has always been committed to supporting democratic processes, including supporting elections integrity. We place a big focus on creating products and programmes that enable people across the globe to engage with these activities through information that is accurate,” said Google Southern Africa government affairs senior manager Abongile Mashile.

The social media partners stressed the importance of safeguarding the electoral processes from “bad actors”.

“Using lessons from the past, and input from a range of experts, including dedicated and local teams within Meta, we continue to make substantial investments to help take aggressive steps in fighting abuse across our platforms, while rolling out policies and products to help ensure a safe and secure general election,” said Meta Africa public policy director Balkissa Ide Siddo.

Throughout this process of safeguarding electoral processes, respective parties have also alluded to the salient objective of engendering trust among voters.

“At TikTok, we’re proud to be a place that brings people together over creative and entertaining content, and we work hard to keep harmful misinformation and other violations of our policies off our platform,” noted TikTok public policy and government director Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda.

Signatories of the framework are enabled to cooperate with the IEC and the MMA in initiatives to curb disinformation with the availability of complaints platform Real411.org and transparent repository for political advertisements PADRE.org.za

“Upon careful review of any reported complaint indicating disinformation or misinformation, the Commission promptly notifies the relevant online platform. The platform is expected to acknowledge and swiftly process the notification, ensuring a diligent response,” explained MMA Africa director William Bird.