JOHANNESBURG: As elections loom in at least 16 African countries, including South Africa, concerns mount over the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation online, as reported by Zaheer Cassim from Johannesburg. However, a newly established digital ethics organization seeks to empower journalists and activists in identifying and combating false narratives, aiming to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. With elections scheduled in over a dozen African countries throughout the remainder of 2024, the threat of online disinformation looms large. Voters who turn to the internet for political news risk exposure to misleading content designed to manipulate public opinion.
