The Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) has reached a significant milestone in the effort to harness the benefits of digital and social media, as well as mitigating the potential harms. Supported by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, it has launched the groundbreaking Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.
The guidelines emphasise
the dangers of social media abuse and call for responsible use and
accountability from both platform owners and users. The event is attended by 16 African Election Management Bodies (EMB) from
countries that will hold elections in 2024 and 2025.
The document also encourages
African EMBs to develop a clear and comprehensive plan for responsible social
media use during election campaigns. It emphasises the critical roles
governments and regulatory bodies can play in safeguarding electoral processes
across Africa.
In addition, the guidelines
encourage African member states and regulatory authorities to refrain from
imposing measures that might disrupt access to the internet, and to digital and
social media. Furthermore,
they call on social
media operators to treat political parties and candidates equitably and ensure
that their online messaging, including that of their supporters, does not undermine
electoral integrity or contravene human rights.
Speaking at the
launch in Johannesburg, the AAEA President, who is also the Chairperson of
Mozambique National Election Commission, Reverend Carlos Simao Matsinhe, stated
that the guidelines are an invaluable resource for protecting elections integrity
and credibility. He added that the fight against disinformation is critical because, left unmitigated,
it can have a deleterious impact on the credibility of elections. He urged EMBs
to socialise the guidelines in their respective countries.
South Africa, through
grant funding by the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund, played
an important role in developing the guidelines. In his keynote address, South
Africa’s Deputy President, Mr Paul Mashatile, pledged the country's support for
socialising the principles and guidelines.
“The reality is that the
political environment during elections is tense and volatile, and we should use
social media with responsibility to ensure that the content we share is
credible and accurate.
I urge political parties that participate in
robust debate on social media to uphold ethical standards and refrain from
going too far in being unjust, deceptive, or hateful,” said Deputy President Mashatile.
The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa,
Mr Mosotho Moepya, urged all stakeholders to play their roles in ensuring that
the guidelines are widely socialised and implemented, not only to increase voter confidence and
trust in electoral processes, but also to ensure the deepening of democratic
values.
Also echoing the same
sentiment was the representative of the African Union Commission (AUC) Ambassador
William Awinador-Kanyirige, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner, Political
Affairs, Peace and Security, aid that the adoption of the guidelines will play
a huge role in the transformation and handling of elections in Africa. “The
existence of these principles and guidelines will go a long way in inspiring other
countries to follow the same steps thus promoting peaceful elections.”
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible elections
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