Election integrity in the digital age: insights from IGF 2024

Election integrity and disinformation have been closely followed topics during the session ‘Internet governance and elections: maximising the potential for trust and addressing risks’ at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024 on Wednesday. Experts from across sectors convened to discuss the need to safeguard election integrity amid digital challenges. With more than 65 elections occurring globally this year, the so-called ‘super election year,’ the risks of being misguided have never been higher. From misinformation to AI deepfakes, the conversation underscored the escalating threats and the need for collaborative, multistakeholder solutions.

The Growing Threat of Disinformation

Tawfik Jelassi from UNESCO emphasised the exponential rise of disinformation, framing it as a key global risk. ‘Without facts, there is no trust, and without trust, democracy falters,’ he cautioned, adding that misinformation spreads ten times faster than verified content, exacerbating distrust in elections. Panellists, including William Bird of Media Monitoring Africa and Lina Viltrakiene of the Lithuanian government, described how malicious actors manipulate digital platforms to mislead voters, with deepfakes and coordinated inauthentic behaviour becoming increasingly pervasive.

Digital Inequality and Global Disparities

Elizabeth Orembo of ICT Africa highlighted the stark challenges faced by the Global South, where digital divides and unequal media access leave populations more vulnerable to misinformation. Unregulated influencers and podcasters wield significant power in Africa, often spreading unchecked narratives. ‘We cannot apply blanket policies from tech companies without addressing regional contexts,’ Orembo noted, pointing to the need for tailored approaches that account for infrastructural and cultural disparities.

AI, Social Media, and Platform Accountability

Meta’s Sezen Yesil shed light on the company’s efforts to combat election-related threats, including stricter measures against fake accounts, improved transparency for political ads, and collaboration with fact-checkers. While AI-driven disinformation remains a concern, Yesil observed that the anticipated impact of generative AI in the 2024 elections was modest. Nonetheless, panellists called for stronger accountability measures for tech companies, with Viltrakiene advocating for legal frameworks like the EU’s Digital Services Act to counter digital harms effectively.

A Multi-Stakeholder Solution

The session highlighted the importance of multistakeholder collaboration, a frequent theme across discussions. Rosemary Sinclair of Australia’s AUDA emphasised that safeguarding democracy is a ‘global team sport,’ requiring contributions from governments, civil society, academia, and the technical community. ‘The IGF is the ideal space for fostering such cooperation,’ she added, urging closer coordination between national and global IGF platforms.

Participants agreed that the fight for election integrity must extend beyond election cycles. Digital platforms, governments, and civil society must sustain efforts to build trust, address digital inequities, and create frameworks that protect democracy in the digital age. The IGF’s role as a forum for global dialogue and action was affirmed, with calls to strengthen its influence in shaping governance solutions for the future.