Meta to fight election misinformation in South Africa during 2024 elections
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has partnered with South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to monitor social media platforms during the 2024 elections.
The President of Meta’s Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, revealed how Meta is training South Africa’s IEC on the responsible use of social media, especially with WhatsApp bots, to share reliable information.
Clegg acknowledges how delicate 2024 will be, especially with new tech like generative AI. He’s focused on putting measures in place to tackle misinformation.
Meta isn’t facing this challenge alone. It has joined forces with other giants like Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, signing an agreement at the Munich Security Conference.
South Africa is preparing for its elections on May 29, and with nearly 370 political parties in the mix, it’s going to be very contentious indeed.
It’s not all smooth sailing though. The IEC has already seen some data leaks, causing some unrest. This has put them under scrutiny of the Information Regulator, which has stepped in to investigate.
There is some good news, however, as South Africans living abroad can now register to vote online for the first time ever, with over 30,000 already on board, making it easier for expats to have their say in the elections.
