How to spot election disinformation and AI fakes ahead of 2026 polls - IOL

The IEC has issued guidance on identifying fake election content, warning voters to check claims before sharing information online ahead of the November 4 polls.

Voters are being urged to think twice before sharing election-related information online, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) warning about fake voting information, AI-generated content, fake accounts and other forms of disinformation ahead of the November 4 Local Government Elections.

The IEC has introduced an Electoral Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation, which applies to political parties and candidates contesting the election and sets out what they may and may not do when spreading false or misleading information online and offline.

The code remains in effect until the election results are declared, with parties and candidates due to formally commit to it at the Electoral Code of Conduct signing ceremony on September 23.

The commission said disinformation is false or misleading information shared by someone who knows it is not true, or has no reasonable basis for believing it is true, with the intention of misleading voters or disrupting the election.

“This could be disinformation targeting the electoral process, contestants, the Electoral Commission and its staff,” the IEC said.

Unlike disinformation, misinformation refers to false information shared without an intention to mislead, often because the person sharing it has not checked whether it is accurate.

The IEC said satire, opinion, fair criticism and genuine political debate do not fall under disinformation.

False claims about voting dates, times, venues or who is allowed to vote are among the forms of content voters should be cautious about.

The IEC has also warned about fake statements or announcements attributed to the commission or its staff, scams posing as the IEC, including fake job advertisements, and manipulated or AI-generated images, audio and video used to mislead.

Fake accounts and bot networks designed to make a particular view appear more popular can also be used to spread misleading information.

The commission also identified the sharing of someone's private information without consent to cause harm, known as doxxing, as a concern.

The IEC advises voters to first check where the information came from and compare it with official IEC channels and other credible sources.

If a post is designed to make people angry, scared or anxious, voters are encouraged to pause before sharing it and check the claim.

The commission also recommends searching for the claim across other credible news sources.

Suspicious photographs can be checked through a reverse-image search to establish where they appeared previously and whether they are being used out of context.

Voters can also examine the account that posted the material. A new account, little posting history or a name that closely resembles an official account can be a warning sign.

The IEC has warned voters to look closely at images and videos for signs of manipulation, including unnatural movement, mismatched lighting, unusual hands or blurred edges.

Under the Disinformation Code, AI-generated “synthetic” content must be clearly labelled before it is distributed. Political advertising must also be clearly identified.

Suspected election disinformation can be reported through Real411, a platform administered by Moxii Africa that independently investigates complaints and can recommend action to the IEC or digital platforms.

Complaints require the complainant's name and contact details and cannot be submitted anonymously, although the complainant's identity is kept confidential. A link or screenshot of the content and details about the complaint should also be provided.

Political parties and candidates have 36 hours to report online disinformation to Real411 and publicly correct false or misleading information.

The IEC considers Real411 reports and can either flag information as disinformation on its social media platforms or issue an official correction. It can also recommend that the matter be considered by the Electoral Court where the code has been breached.

Complaints are handled in all 11 official languages, with outcomes published once a decision has been reached.

Those who disagree with a Real411 decision can lodge an appeal with its Appeals Committee through the Secretariat.

Where the Electoral Code is breached, the matter can be referred to the Electoral Court, which can impose sanctions including a formal warning, a fine of up to R200,000 or forfeiture of an electoral deposit.

Other sanctions include restrictions on political activities and advertising, exclusion from a voting station, a reduction in votes cast in favour of a party or candidate, disqualification of a candidature and cancellation of a party's registration.

The IEC said voters can also help counter disinformation by not sharing suspicious content and by sharing confirmed corrections or outcomes with people who may have seen the original claim.