2024 Elections: Fake news, disinformation and propaganda
Real411 is the official platform for reporting disinformation and propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
Living in a fast-paced, digitally-controlled world, where social media posts, “clicks” and “likes” rule over everything, it becomes very difficult to decipher truth from fiction and information from disinformation.
Moreover, during a busy election year such as 2024, what may seem like a straightforward fact often conceals a web of propaganda designed to influence elections and manipulate public opinion.
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COMBATING DIGITAL DISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA
This is why the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has partnered with Google, Facebook parent Meta Platforms, TikTok and non-profit organisation Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), to create a digital tool called the Real411, which is the official platform for reporting misinformation and disinformation in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
Real411 enables members of the public to report, disinformation and ensure it was addressed in an open, transparent and accountable manner within our laws and constitutional principles.
Disinformation is false, inaccurate or misleading information designed, presented and promoted online to intentionally cause public harm. Harm in this regard includes, but is not limited to, generating hate speech, creating hostility or fear in order to incite violence.
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REPORTING IS ALSO UPHOLDING INTERGRITY OF ELECTIONS
“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,” said William Bird, the director of MMA.
“When you report an instance of digital disinformation to Real411, you are not just raising awareness, you are also initiating action and safeguarding the integrity of the upcoming election.”.
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REDUCING DISINFORMATION AHEAD OF 2024 ELECTIONS
The Real411 digital tool was piloted during South Africa national elections in 2019 and it was found to be highly successful.
During the lead up to the elections people weren’t just wanting to report disinformation but also cases of incitement and hate speech too so for the new version we have added those.
All election complaints were shared with the IEC’s Directorate for Electoral Offences, which carefully assesses each case and ensures appropriate measures are taken..
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SOUTH AFRICA NOT IMMUNE TO DISINFORMATIONN AND PROPAGANDA
South Africa has not been immune to fake content on social media created with the fundamental aim of misleading and shifting political or social discourse..
Just one example was the “white monopoly capital” campaign reportedly linked to the notorious Gupta family that was allegedly at the heart of state capture corruption under President Jacob Zuma.