IEC partners with tech giants to combat 2026 election disinformation
Digital platforms grant the Electoral Commission direct channels to quickly take down misleading content ahead of the November vote.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has partnered with Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and non-profit organisation Moxii Africa to protect information integrity ahead of the local government elections on November 4.
Chief communication officer Kate Bapela said the agreement builds on a similar framework implemented for the 2024 national and provincial elections.
“It’s an indispensable lever buttressing the commission’s purposive measures to enhance the integrity of election information,” Bapela said.
These measures include gazetting the Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation in the Local Government Elections on September 4. The code applies to political parties, candidates and their representatives, carrying the same legal weight and sanctions as the broader Electoral Code of Conduct.
Direct access to digital platforms
Chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said direct collaboration with digital platforms provides the IEC with immediate tools to counter online falsehoods.
“Our partnership with digital platforms is critical to ensuring that voters have access to credible, accurate and trustworthy information to make informed political choices. A technically flawless election can still lose public trust if citizens are overwhelmed by disinformation. Therefore, the partnership eliminates barriers to direct access to the platforms and enables instantaneous remedial action against disinformation peddlers,” Mamabolo said.
The agreement framework focuses on:
• Good-faith co-operation throughout the election period
• Respect for existing legislation, explicitly excluding the sharing of confidential user data
• Alignment with the Constitution, municipal electoral laws and the Disinformation Code
• Establishing a joint working group, driving public awareness campaigns and training political parties on disinformation
• Allowing platforms to enforce their internal terms, including content removals, advisory labels and account suspensions
• Joint initiatives aimed at mitigating digital election risks
Reporting channels and independent oversight
The IEC has designated the Real411 platform to receive and process public complaints regarding misleading election content.
Members of the public can submit reports in all 11 official languages via real411.org.za or the Real411 mobile app.
Bapela said Real411 independently evaluates reports before referring cases to the commission and partner platforms.
Upon review, the IEC can:
• Refer severe violations to the Electoral Court for legal sanctions
• Escalate complaints directly to online platforms for swift content moderation
• Issue public statements to debunk false narratives
Voters seeking advice on identifying false information can visit www.elections.org.za/pw/Elections-And-Results/Report-Election-Disinformation.
Industry leaders pledge technical support
The participating technology partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting democratic processes in South Africa.
“Free, fair and credible elections depend on people being able to trust the information they see. No single organisation can tackle disinformation alone, which is why Microsoft is pleased to join the Electoral Commission in this partnership. Ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, we will work alongside the Commission, civil society and industry to help voters find authoritative election information, strengthen media and AI literacy, and counter deceptive AI-generated content,” said Microsoft South Africa government affairs director Abongile Vanda.
TikTok Southern Africa government relations lead Tholoana Ncheke-Mahlaela said they recognise the important role our platform plays in helping people discover information and engage in public conversations.
“This is why we take our responsibility to protect our community during elections very seriously. Through our in-app Election Centre, South Africans will be able to access reliable information about the elections, and to further support this, we have introduced election-related labels and search banners that direct users to the centre with a single tap. This work is supported by advanced moderation, collaboration with fact-checking partners and electoral commissions like the IEC South Africa to ensure a safe, informed, and authentic election experience for our community,” Ncheke-Mahlaela said.
Moxii Africa director William Bird said information integrity is fundamental to the credibility of any democratic process.
“In an increasingly complex digital environment, protecting voters from misinformation and disinformation requires co-ordinated action across institutions, technology platforms, civil society and citizens themselves. This partnership represents an important commitment to ensuring that South Africans can access accurate, trustworthy election information and participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections with confidence. Moxii Africa is proud to support this collective effort to strengthen trust, transparency and democratic resilience,” Bird said.
