Elections 2024: Launch of social media principles to protect against misinformation - IEC
According to the IEC's deputy chief Masego Sheburi, one of the reasons for these guidelines is to protect voters against negatives found on social media platforms.
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JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission (IEC) says the launch of Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in African Elections seeks to protect the continent's eligible voters in their respective countries.
The guidelines have been adopted by election management bodies across Africa under the guidance of the Association of African Electoral Authorities.
The first draft of the guidelines was presented at a validation workshop hosted by the African Union in Ethiopia in 2023.
Monday’s launch comes as the continent sees heightened election activity, with 16 countries set to take to the polls during the year.
According to the IEC's deputy chief Masego Sheburi, one of the reasons for these guidelines is to protect voters.
''The misinformation, the disinformation are all the negatives that you find on these platforms, and we sought to say through these guidelines let’s protect the citizens, the voters, the recipients of various messages”.
Sheburi said the guidelines will provide a comprehensive framework on how best to interface online platforms before, during and after elections.
''Campaigns have shifted to these digital platforms and social media platforms, so are these various campaigns in the form of information sharing secondly the speed the easy access on the go on these platforms.”