One of the things that spreads faster than butter is fake news!

This is especially so now that the 2024 National and Provincial Elections take place on Wednesday and special votes are already underway.

But why do people create fake news and how do you spot fake news, misinformation (wrong information, not deliberately spread) and disinformation (false information, deliberately spread to deceive people)?

Addressing a webinar hosted by the Government Communication and Information System in early May, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) communications manager Nomshado Lubisi-Nkosinkulu said disinformation is presented and promoted to intentionally cause public harm or for profit.

The ‘explosion of information’ is making it increasingly difficult to know what is real and what is not, she added.

Disinformation versus misinformation

Disinformation within an election context includes false information intended to unduly affect participation in and the outcome of elections, said the Electoral Commission of South Africa, known as the IEC.

“The bourgeoning use of digital media in recent years has seen a corresponding surge in digital disinformation, particularly on social media platforms. Electoral processes have not been spared. Left unchecked, this phenomenon stands to undermine the conduct of credible elections,” said IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya in a media statement.

“Disinformation poses a threat to the exercise of various rights and to the access of constitutional protections, including freedom of expression, access to credible information, and the freedom to make informed political choices.

“The dissemination of disinformation has huge potential to undermine the fairness and credibility of elections. Credible information is the lifeblood of all democracies. Trustworthy information is crucial in the process that enables citizens to choose their leaders,” he added.

This is why the IEC partnered with social media giants Google, Meta and TikTok, and non-profit organisation MMA to curb disinformation ahead of the elections.

Fake news destroys democracy

Lubisi-Nkosinkulu said disinformation always has a grain of truth; it makes the public angry, anxious, fearful and uncertain.

“Consequently, it undermines the ability to trust and as a result, key institutions of democracy are undermined.

“Using dedicated tools, including Real411, we will help combat, mitigate and investigate disinformation and other online harms during the election period,” she said.

Real411 provides a platform for the public to report digital harms, including disinformation. The app is available on Google Play and the App Store.

A recent example of disinformation is messages circulating on social media that claim that South Africans must bring their own black ballpoint pens to the polls on May 29 because the ink in the pens provided ‘evaporates’ within a short period. The messages are not true.

📢 [DISINFORMATION ALERT] There is no truth to this content whatsoever; it constitutes disinformation. Pens will be provided by the Electoral Commission at all voting stations for voters to mark their ballots in #SAelections24. Please take care not to share this disinformation… pic.twitter.com/90Wof0yutj

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 25, 2024

Ask questions before you share

According to an article published by Africa Check, you should ask yourself five questions before you click share:

• Who wrote it? If you don’t know who wrote it, how can you trust it?
• Can I verify the claims? Be careful if a claim is not backed by a trusted source!
• Does the info make me scared or angry? Ask yourself if the message is playing on people’s fears or prejudices, and double-check the facts.
• Does it include shocking pictures, video or audio? These could have been edited. Double-check to see if they are from a previous event or a different place.
• Am I sure this is not a hoax? Many fake messages can be checked out online. You can search reliable news sites or fact-checking websites such as AfricaCheck.org or Snopes.com.

Before you share anything, search online to see if the message has already been fact-checked or reported as a hoax.

You can also ask Africa Check to fact-check a message by sending a WhatsApp to 073 749 7875, or visit its Fack Checking Hub.

How to spot a fake news website

According to an article published by Africa Check, there are various ways in which you can spot a fake news website, namely:

• Click on the website’s ‘about us’ section or look for a disclaimer
• Look for a ‘satire’ or ‘fauxtire’ label
• Check if the site is an Interactive Advertising Bureau member
• Search for the owner of the website.