INEC, AAEA, IEC To Launch Principles And Guidelines For The Use Of Digital And Social Media In Elections In Africa
Oru Leonard
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, 27th February To Thursday, 29th February, 2024 joined the Association of African Election Authorities in collaboration with the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), to organize an official Launch Programme for the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This is stated in a release made available to News Dot Africa.
The Principles and Guidelines are provided to enhance the capacities of Election Management Bodies (EMBS), and other relevant electoral stakeholders to harness the advantages of social media and tackle the adverse effects of new and emerging digital technologies.
The Principles and Guidelines are also a human rights-inspired non-binding and persuasive instrument that is meant to address the existing normative gap regarding the use of and implications of digital and social media in elections in the continent.
At the official launch, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Nigeria is being represented by Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, the Director-General of the INEC Electoral Institute (TEI).
The DG of the Electoral Institute (TEI) is expected to do a presentation on “PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN ELECTIONS: THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) NIGERIA EXPERIENCE WITH DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA DURING ELECTIONS”.
The development of the Principles and Guidelines on use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa, was inspired by the recommendations of the first-ever Continental Conference for Election Management Bodies that was held in Cape Town in March 2020, South Africa.
It was themed “Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the Digital Age: Strategies for Combatting Digital Disinformation”. It was jointly organised by the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations.
Development Programme (UNDP). The document is therefore, a product of an extensive consultative process with EMBs and electoral stakeholders across the African Continent.
These Guidelines emphasize the importance of harnessing social media to bolster.
EMBs’ standing and foster confidence and trust in their endeavors while engaging their stakeholders effectively. The Guidelines also underscore the dangers of social media misuse and call for responsible journalism and accountability among platform owners and users. The document encourages African EMBs to adopt a clear and comprehensive plan for the responsible use of social media during electoral periods.
