POLL WARNING OP-ED: Elections and the information integrity crisis: Why SA’s human rights body is taking action

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has issued a strong warning about disinformation ahead of local elections, urging measures to protect information integrity as a prerequisite for human rights. This alert, released as the 4 November local government elections approach, highlights five key recommendations published in a policy brief on Information Integrity and Human Rights.

Disinformation is identified as a structural threat that poses a systemic human rights concern, including direct impacts on life, dignity, equality, and democratic participation. The SAHRC argues that disinformation distorts public debate, polarizes society, and hinders informed choices, making effective regulation crucial. To address this, the commission recommends shifting focus from content-focused enforcement to system-wide platform accountability, including transparency reporting, clearer obligations regarding algorithmic amplification, and synthetic media.

Existing mechanisms under the Electoral Act can already prohibit false information, while a draft Electoral Code of Conduct aims to strengthen this further by enforcing retraction and correction of false information within 24 hours, and labeling synthetic or AI-generated content for political adverts. These measures apply to political parties, candidates, and the electoral cycle, but do not impose systemic duties on digital platforms.

In addition to these platform-specific recommendations, three other "policy pathway" suggestions are provided: creating a well-funded early warning and rapid-response mechanism during high-risk periods like elections; conducting a targeted review of legal frameworks to identify gaps, overlaps, and risks of overreach; and sustaining investment in public empowerment, digital literacy, and civic education, including school-based interventions, public-sector training, and community-level media literacy programs.

The SAHRC's recommendations align with the recommendations made during the inaugural M20 (Media) Summit in South Africa in September, which coincided with President Cyril Ramaphosa's hosting of the G20. The Johannesburg Declaration, adopted at the M20 Summit, stresses the importance of human rights and information integrity for sustaining democracy, calling for greater protection of press freedom and support for journalism as a human rights-based media ecosystem.

Both the M20 and SAHRC emphasize that financial sustainability is crucial for maintaining independent journalism. They argue that public policy should actively support pluralistic media through measures such as fiscal incentives, donor-supported models, and digital platform levies. However, these financial mechanisms must be designed with strict safeguards to preserve editorial independence and ensure universal access to reliable information.

The SAHRC's call for action underscores a growing awareness among rights advocates and the public that information integrity and independent media are essential for safeguarding democracy. While the G20 Leaders Summit in South Africa last year missed an opportunity to address these issues in its declaration, President Ramaphosa's engagement with the M20 delegation highlighted the urgency of strengthening information resilience in the digital age.