The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is preparing a multifaceted strategy to counter an expected 'AI disinformation hurricane' ahead of South Africa's 2026 local elections. IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya highlighted risks from generative AI at a Disinformation Dialogue in Cape Town. Vice-chairperson Janet Love described the threat as 'disinformation on steroids' compared to 2024.
At a recent Disinformation Dialogue in Cape Town, IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya compared countering disinformation for the 2026 local elections to being a “meteorologist in the middle of a Category 5 hurricane. We aren’t just predicting the storm any more; we are living in it.” The event drew delegates from the Institute for Security Studies, the European Union, and embassies of Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, reflecting global interest in South Africa's elections, which lack a set date yet. Municipal polls add complexity over 2024 national elections due to hyper-local contexts, thin margins, and rumours on WhatsApp and community media. Local elections involve over 4,300 ballots, compared to around 20 nationally, heightening logistical challenges targeted by disinformation, such as false claims of stolen votes or tampering by officials. Love cited a case where a woman in KZN was forced from her home at 3am amid such rumours, deterring potential election staff. Moepya stated South Africa’s democracy “is not a laboratory for unregulated algorithmic experiments” and eyed the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act as a blueprint, demanding “the same level of transparency in Ekurhuleni as is demanded in Brussels.” The IEC's response emphasises 'radical transparency,' pre-bunking disinformation via boosted social media staffing, WhatsApp channels, and podcasts; partnerships like Real411, which handled 289 complaints in 2024; and enforcing social media guidelines launched ahead of those elections. Platforms including Google, Meta, and TikTok signed a voluntary code, though X did not. Courts have ruled in the IEC's favour on around 40 occasions against attacks alleging result manipulation.
