Are African elections manipulated by foreign disinformation campaigns?
- By Tom Mboya
2024 is touted as the biggest election year in history. More than 80 national elections are scheduled to take place, affecting 52% of the global population.
2024 is touted as the biggest election year in history. More than 80 national elections are scheduled to take place, affecting 52% of the global population. Furthermore, in a recent survey by Ipsos, 87% of respondents from 16 of these countries expressed concern that disinformation could affect election results, with social media identified as the leading source of disinformation.
The Global Risks Report 2024 identifies disinformation as one of the top risks the world will have to contend with, predicting that “…over the next two years, the widespread use of misinformation and disinformation, and tools to disseminate it, may undermine the legitimacy of newly elected governments. Resulting unrest could range from violent protests and hate crimes to civil confrontation and terrorism”.
The report goes on to posit that the rise of disinformation may be increasingly embolden governments to control information “…based on what they determine to be ‘true’”. This is concerning in an environment in which internet freedoms are already in decline.
So who is behind this spike in disinformation?
- Read more on the article as it appears on the Mail and Guardian's website.