Election disinformation is becoming ‘a digital hurricane’
South Africa’s 2026 local government elections are shaping up to be one of the country’s most complex and contested electoral moments yet. However, the biggest threat to electoral integrity may not come from political parties or coalition instability, but rather from the flood of misinformation and AI-generated disinformation already dominating online spaces.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has warned about the growing use of social media to spread manipulated and misleading information at unprecedented speed and scale. Earlier this year, IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya compared the challenge of countering disinformation ahead of the elections to being “a meteorologist in the middle of a Category 5 hurricane.”
His warning reflects a growing reality: disinformation is no longer a fringe issue. It is becoming a defining feature of modern elections, with the potential to erode trust, distort public debate and undermine confidence in democratic outcomes.
Artificial intelligence has accelerated the problem dramatically. In the latest episode of For Facts’ Sake – The CINIA Podcast, CINIA Communications Coordinator Janet Heard highlighted how easy it has become to create convincing political content online.
“You can create a news report, documentary or campaign video with a few prompts,” Heard explained.
The challenge is also unfolding at a time when public trust in institutions is already weakening. A recent IEC voter participation survey found that 68% of South Africans are dissatisfied with how democracy is functioning, while 44% believe people can be bribed to vote.
As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, the fight for free and fair elections will increasingly depend on protecting information integrity. South Africa is not only preparing for an election battle at the ballot box, but also for a digital battle over truth itself.
Further Reading:
- The use of AI-generated election misinformation is not unique to South Africa. The issue has become a global concern, with a recent special issue of Social Sciences & Humanities Open, titled The Application of Artificial Intelligence in Political Communication: Misinformation, Polarization and Emotions, examining how AI is reshaping political communication across the world.
- The recent cancellation of RightsCon provides a warning for Africa’s digital rights, writes Janet Heard for Daily Maverick 168. The article also unpacks how ‘diplomatic sensitivities’ played a role in the cancellation. You can purchase the newspaper in various retailers across South Africa or online.
