Disinformation threatens trust in election results: Researcher

Research has revealed that disinformation poses a threat to trust in election results, not just voter choices, as reported by Kira Alberts, Research Coordinator at the Centre for Research on Democracy. While disinformation may not influence voters' selection of political parties, it can discourage them from voting and impact their acceptance of the election results.

Alberts explains that although disinformation rarely changes how people vote or which party they choose, it does affect whether they vote and how they react to the outcome. In this election, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has become a primary target of disinformation, with efforts aimed at discrediting the vote and the institution, potentially sparking unrest if people are less likely to accept the results and doubt the IEC's credibility.

With voter turnout declining from 86.87 percent in 1994 to 45.86 percent in the 2021 local government elections, Alberts emphasizes that the impact of disinformation should not be underestimated. She acknowledges that political parties' "robust and even harsh campaigning" on social media is beneficial and reflects the essence of democracy.

However, she warns against "deliberate manipulation" in messaging, which occurs when communication shifts from persuasion to the strategic use of misleading narratives, manipulated images, fabricated claims, or coordinated networks of accounts to fabricate public support or opposition that doesn't exist. Alberts stresses the importance of curbing the spread of false information, as only about 50% of South African voters are confident in distinguishing real from fake news, and only 18% of internet or social media users claim to verify information they encounter online.