The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has gazetted new rules for political parties, introducing stricter rules for spreading and responding to disinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation in the Local Government Elections (disinformation code) was introduced by the IEC as part of the electoral code of conduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Disinformation Code is part of the Electoral Code of Conduct. Any contravention of the Code is therefore treated as a breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct and is subject to sanction under the Act,” the IEC said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The code will require political parties to verify the accuracy of information they share, or that is shared on their behalf, before it is distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will also require parties and political candidates to publicly retract and correct any false or misleading information they share within 36 hours of becoming aware of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The code specifies that parties and candidates must avoid using “deceptive practices” such as fake online accounts, bot networks, and coordinated inauthentic behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coordinated online bot campaigns have become increasingly prevalent in global politics, where fake social media accounts are used to spread disinformation or discredit parties and candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Videos and images generated using AI will also have to be labelled as “synthetic” before being distributed by any political figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disinformation code will require that political advertising is clearly identified as such, “so the public can identify who is behind it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The Code also specifically prohibits disinformation targeting the Commission, its Commissioners or its staff, requiring parties and candidates to correct it publicly where it occurs,” the IEC said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n