Safeguarding democracy: Strategies to combat disinformation in electoral contexts

Central to the conversation was the role of tech platforms in moderating content responsibly.

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Disinformation during elections is a growing threat to democracy and human rights, according to a global panel of experts who convened at the Internet Governance Forum 2024 in Riyadh to discuss this issue. Giovanni Zagni, director of Pagella Politica and Facta.news, highlighted the European Union’s approach with its voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation, which has 34 signatories, including major tech platforms.

The collaborative strategy contrasts with stricter regulatory models, raising questions about the balance between platform accountability and government intervention. Juliano Cappi from the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee underscored the importance of digital sovereignty and public infrastructure, introducing concepts like ‘systemic risk’ and ‘duty of care’ in platform regulation.

Collaboration among stakeholders was a recurring theme, with experts stressing the need for partnerships between fact-checkers, tech companies, and civil society organisations. Nazar Nicholas Kirama, president of the Internet Society Tanzania (ISOC Tanzania) called for platforms to adopt transparent algorithms and assume greater accountability, comparing their influence to that of electoral commissions.

However, Cappi warned about the risks of bias in platforms’ business models and advocated for a ‘follow the money’ approach to trace disinformation campaigns. Aiesha Adnan, co-founder of the ‘Women in Tech Maldives’ and Poncelet Ileleji from the Information Technology Association of the Gambia emphasised media literacy and grassroots empowerment as crucial tools, calling for initiatives like UNESCO-backed fact-checking and community radio programs to counter misinformation.

The tension between regulation and free speech was a central point of debate. While some participants, like Zagni, noted the challenge of addressing disinformation without infringing on freedoms, others warned against government overreach.

Adnan highlighted smaller nations’ unique challenges, urging for culturally sensitive interventions and localised strategies. The session closed with a call for global cooperation and continued dialogue to safeguard democratic processes while respecting diverse regional contexts and fundamental rights.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.