By Kemiso Wessie
The digital and online realm has emerged as a battleground fraught with deep fake content generated by artificial intelligence, propaganda, fake news and other forms of mis- and disinformation. As approximately 70 countries head to the polls this year, the results will have profound and long-lasting consequences.
In the lead-up to national, parliament and presidential elections in 20 African countries, combating falsehoods and ensuring access to accurate information is paramount. While African citizens navigate the digital landscape, distinguishing fact from fiction becomes increasingly challenging, necessitating proactive measures to combat misinformation.
The use of digital and social media has allowed election information to be more accessible for most citizens and available in different and unique forms. However, it is not without its issues. The Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) adopted the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa earlier this year supported by the Electoral Commission of South Africa. The guidelines focus on leveraging the benefits of digital and social media while still mitigating and managing the potential harms.
Of all the potential harms, content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) stands out above the rest. Although politics have been characterised by propaganda, smear campaigns and misinformation, the popularity and easy use of AI have increased the amount of content online. Given this and the majority of African citizens still navigating the digital landscape, the spreading of deepfakes could be a challenge during this time.
An article published by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) states the appropriation of AI-generated content to delegitimise electoral institutions and processes can influence voter behaviour. To counter this fact-checking platforms and newsrooms have made concerted efforts to promote media literacy, ensuring voters are informed before they reach the polls.
At the 2023 Jamfest conference, Thandi Smith, Media Monitoring Africa’s (MMA) head of programmes said “A lot of the voting public is sitting on the fence in terms of where they plan to cast their vote. They might not understand the politics, the voting dynamics, the electoral process and so on, which makes instances of disinformation so dangerous. All those who want to disrupt the election process need to do is sow that little bit of doubt, that little bit of mistrust.”
Attempting to clear the fog of information, News24 launched their Manifesto Meter which allows voters to compare the manifestos of South African political parties. “Information empowers people,” said Jan Gerber, a parliamentary journalist for News24 who also led the Manifesto Meter project. The Meter filters through manifestos based on key metrics including health, corruption, crime, education, jobs, economy, load shedding, water and even slogan. However, it misses out on other important topics such as LGBTQ+ challenges, climate change and technology, which are important to young voters.
Gerber said to Ajenda that in addition to using the Meter, voters should make an effort to read the manifestos in full which are linked to on the News24 site. “Read broadly, read all of [the manifestos], be critical and read [news] from independent sources,” he advises.
Raising awareness and information is no doubt crucial, but only that which is verified and factual. Accurate and factual information has become even more important and fact-checking platforms are gearing up for the electoral campaigns. For example, in South Africa, Media Monitoring Africa has launched the Political Advert Repository (Padre),, a collaborative initiative with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) which allows voters to fact-check information regarding political parties and their recent statements.
Ajenda spoke to David Ajikobi, Nigerian editor of Africa Check, a non-profit organisation launched in 2012 that promotes accuracy in public debate and the media in Africa. “We quickly understood the real life consequences of misinformation,” says Ajikobi. Africa Check has consistently encouraged voters and media consumers to employ fact-checking while also promoting a need for media literacy skills to be better informed and they also facilitate training for journalists. “People should be exposed to the truth. We want people to have the skills to decipher information,” he adds.
On AI, Ajikobi explains that while the use of AI has been more pronounced, he is not against it given its role and potential for good, “But I’m more concerned with how AI is used,” he says. Its manipulative capabilities can divide people but this is where media literacy is needed to spot this and make informed decisions. “People should vote on evidence-based issues,” he concludes.
As Africa navigates the complexities of the digital era, combating misinformation emerges as a critical imperative for safeguarding the political futures of its countries. Moving forward, concerted efforts to promote media literacy, enhance information access, and deploy innovative technologies will be essential in confronting the scourge of misinformation. By empowering citizens with the tools and knowledge to discern truth from falsehood, Africa can fortify its political foundations and build a more resilient society.
Read the Journalism and Media Lab’s (Jamlab) list of African fact-checking organisations working to curb the spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation on various platforms: https://jamlab.africa/the-top-fact-checking-news-websites-in-africa/
This article was first published in the Ajen Newsletter