BERLIN/PARIS/STOCKHOLM – In a year when a record 3 billion people will vote, governments, election bodies as well as social media and tech companies must combat digital threats to elections by safeguarding access to credible information. This includes proactively safeguarding reliable electoral information, monitoring algorithms used on platforms and ensuring viral circuit breakers prevent disinformation from spreading, a report from three leading democracy organizations said.
The policy brief by The Forum on Information and Democracy, The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and Democracy Reporting International recommends ten actions to ensure access to reliable election-related information, confidence in credible journalism and access to a diversity of viewpoints.
This year’s elections in Indonesia, the European Union, the United States, India, and others will impact the future of our planet, of democracy, of peace and the fight against climate change.
The constantly evolving digital information world creates new threats to our democracies. Efforts to pollute the information environment can greatly distort public opinion. Bad actors abuse artificial intelligence to distort facts, develop deep fakes, and micro target audiences with hyper-segmented messages, inhibiting citizens from developing fact-based, informed views before they vote.
“The unchecked power of tech giants and technological innovations that prioritize private interests and financial gain over public interest erode the very essence of democracy. The global information ecosystem is not a private space but a public good that needs to be protected, it needs to be governed by democratic rules and verified by democratic and civic institutions,” explains Michael Bąk, Executive Director of the Forum on Information and Democracy.
The recommendations also indicate ways to eliminate financial incentives for disinformation and put in place special accountability regimes for influencers. It also encourages governments to honor international human rights commitments as well as to support media plurality and carry out efforts to protect traditionally marginalized groups.
“This year of elections around the world highlights how we must combat digital threats to their integrity. Social media and tech companies have obligations to protect and support our basic rights as democratic citizens. This report offers a road map for them to fulfill their obligations and for governments to honor their commitments to the ideal of democracy,” said International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Casas Zamora.
“Waves of tech revolutions keep transforming the public sphere. The distinction between offline and online spheres is becoming less relevant – for many people, online is the principal place for public debate. We present democratic guardrails for this emerging global information space to safeguard free speech and the right to form opinions free of violence or manipulation – in line with international law obligations”, adds Michael-Meyer Resende, Executive Director at Democracy Reporting International.