As the South African elections approach, Meta is implementing a cross platform strategy to preserve the integrity of the electoral process. Drawing on lessons learned from previous elections in South Africa and over 200 elections globally, Meta is focusing its teams, technologies, and investments to protect the democratic process.
Meta has invested in safety and security, with around 40,000 people and more than $20 billion dedicated to this area since 2016. The company's Community Standards outline what content is and isn't allowed on its platforms, covering areas relevant to elections such as harassment, incitement to violence, and hate speech.
As election day approaches, Meta will activate a South Africa-specific Elections Operations Centre to identify potential threats and implement mitigations in real-time.
Meta removes the most serious kinds of misinformation from its platforms, such as content that could contribute to imminent violence or physical harm or is intended to suppress voting. For content that doesn't violate these specific policies, Meta works with independent fact-checking organisations, including Africa Check and AFP in South Africa, who review and rate content. When content is debunked, warning labels are attached, and its distribution is reduced in Feed.
Meta is making it easier for fact-checkers to find and rate election-related content by using keyword detection and providing access to its powerful research tool, Meta Content Library.
In preparation for the elections, Meta has signed the "Voluntary Framework of Cooperation to Address Disinformation in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections in South Africa," collaborating with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and other industry partners to mitigate risk.
Meta has been working with Africa Check to train IEC staff on detecting misinformation and has partnered with the IEC and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) to train government communicators on combating misinformation and using safety features on Meta's platforms.
The company is continuing its long-term partnership with Digify Africa to develop digital literacy tools, such as the Lesedi WhatsApp chat service and Kitso, which train students and teachers on internet safety.
Meta is also running anti-hate speech and misinformation campaigns on its platforms and local radio to educate people about identifying and reporting such content.
Ahead of election day, Meta will launch its Voter Information Unit and Election Day Reminder feature on Facebook and Instagram, providing users with neutral reminders and redirecting them to the IEC website for authoritative voting information.
By focusing on key areas such as taking action against harmful content, combating misinformation, working with local organisations, and empowering voters, Meta is putting its own weight behind ensuring a safe and informed electoral environment.