Blab Politics
South Africas Electoral Commission Tightens Rules on Online Disinformation Ahead of 2026 Municipal Elections
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has issued a new code of conduct that requires political parties and candidates to report and correct suspected online disinformation within 36 hours of becoming aware of it. The measure, announced in a notice published on Friday, applies to all campaign communications—online and offline, paid and unpaid—throughout the 2026 municipal election cycle.
Under the code, parties and candidates must use the Real411 platform, developed by Media Monitoring Africa, to submit complaints about false or misleading material that could undermine the electoral process. Real411 has been in use since 2020 and was the channel through which the IEC received more than 285 complaints during the 2024 national elections, covering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. The IEC notes that the complaints only capture a portion of the problem, as false content also circulates in private messaging groups.
The 36‑hour reporting requirement is part of a broader effort to strengthen electoral integrity. The IEC’s notice states that parties and candidates must “take reasonable steps as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than 36 hours after becoming aware to publicly retract and correct any disinformation or other false and misleading information that has been disseminated by them, for them or on their behalf, and to publicly censure any person responsible for disseminating such disinformation.” The code also clarifies that it does not restrict lawful criticism, opinion, satire or legitimate democratic debate.
Key provisions of the code include:
Parties must substantiate all campaign information and verify its accuracy before distribution. Political advertisements must clearly identify the party or candidate and be labelled in a visible and accessible manner. Synthetic content—audio, images, video or text generated using artificial intelligence—must be labelled before it is shared. Parties are prohibited from using deceptive content, fake accounts or automated bots to manipulate voter opinions. * Records of any disinformation distributed by or on behalf of a party must be retained to support notification to the IEC and any investigation.
The IEC also requires parties to monitor their own and associated online platforms for disinformation, including material posted by third parties, and to act rapidly to correct it. Personal information must be safeguarded against unlawful use.
The new rules come after a series of incidents in 2024 that highlighted the risks of digital misinformation. False claims about voting procedures, fabricated endorsements and allegations of electoral manipulation were widely circulated during that election. In response, the IEC drafted the code to address both human‑generated and AI‑generated content.
The IEC’s notice was published on the commission’s website and the draft code was made available for public comment in July. The draft was also discussed in a series of consultations with civil society groups, including the Centre for Freedom of Expression and the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
The IEC’s use of Real411 follows a trend in South Africa to institutionalise mechanisms for tracking disinformation. Media Monitoring Africa has been monitoring digital platforms since March 2020, and the Real411 platform has become a key tool for the IEC to assess complaints.
The new code will take effect for the 2026 municipal elections scheduled for 4 November. Parties and candidates will need to adapt their communication strategies to comply with the 36‑hour reporting window, the AI‑labeling requirement, and the obligation to publicly retract false statements.
The IEC has not announced any penalties for non‑compliance, but the notice indicates that failure to report or correct disinformation could lead to further action. The commission also stated that it will retain records of disinformation distributed by parties to support future investigations.
The IEC’s move is part of a broader effort to safeguard South Africa’s democratic processes. By tightening the rules around campaign communications, the commission aims to reduce the spread of false information and protect voters from manipulation.
The next steps for parties and candidates will involve reviewing their internal oversight mechanisms, training staff on the new requirements, and setting up rapid response teams to monitor and correct any disinformation that arises during the campaign.
The IEC’s notice is the latest development in a series of reforms aimed at ensuring the integrity of South Africa’s elections. As the 2026 municipal elections approach, parties will need to demonstrate compliance with the new code to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
Under the code, parties and candidates must use the Real411 platform, developed by Media Monitoring Africa, to submit complaints about false or misleading material that could undermine the electoral process. Real411 has been in use since 2020 and was the channel through which the IEC received more than 285 complaints during the 2024 national elections, covering misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. The IEC notes that the complaints only capture a portion of the problem, as false content also circulates in private messaging groups.
The 36‑hour reporting requirement is part of a broader effort to strengthen electoral integrity. The IEC’s notice states that parties and candidates must “take reasonable steps as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than 36 hours after becoming aware to publicly retract and correct any disinformation or other false and misleading information that has been disseminated by them, for them or on their behalf, and to publicly censure any person responsible for disseminating such disinformation.” The code also clarifies that it does not restrict lawful criticism, opinion, satire or legitimate democratic debate.
Key provisions of the code include:
Parties must substantiate all campaign information and verify its accuracy before distribution. Political advertisements must clearly identify the party or candidate and be labelled in a visible and accessible manner. Synthetic content—audio, images, video or text generated using artificial intelligence—must be labelled before it is shared. Parties are prohibited from using deceptive content, fake accounts or automated bots to manipulate voter opinions. * Records of any disinformation distributed by or on behalf of a party must be retained to support notification to the IEC and any investigation.
The IEC also requires parties to monitor their own and associated online platforms for disinformation, including material posted by third parties, and to act rapidly to correct it. Personal information must be safeguarded against unlawful use.
The new rules come after a series of incidents in 2024 that highlighted the risks of digital misinformation. False claims about voting procedures, fabricated endorsements and allegations of electoral manipulation were widely circulated during that election. In response, the IEC drafted the code to address both human‑generated and AI‑generated content.
The IEC’s notice was published on the commission’s website and the draft code was made available for public comment in July. The draft was also discussed in a series of consultations with civil society groups, including the Centre for Freedom of Expression and the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
The IEC’s use of Real411 follows a trend in South Africa to institutionalise mechanisms for tracking disinformation. Media Monitoring Africa has been monitoring digital platforms since March 2020, and the Real411 platform has become a key tool for the IEC to assess complaints.
The new code will take effect for the 2026 municipal elections scheduled for 4 November. Parties and candidates will need to adapt their communication strategies to comply with the 36‑hour reporting window, the AI‑labeling requirement, and the obligation to publicly retract false statements.
The IEC has not announced any penalties for non‑compliance, but the notice indicates that failure to report or correct disinformation could lead to further action. The commission also stated that it will retain records of disinformation distributed by parties to support future investigations.
The IEC’s move is part of a broader effort to safeguard South Africa’s democratic processes. By tightening the rules around campaign communications, the commission aims to reduce the spread of false information and protect voters from manipulation.
The next steps for parties and candidates will involve reviewing their internal oversight mechanisms, training staff on the new requirements, and setting up rapid response teams to monitor and correct any disinformation that arises during the campaign.
The IEC’s notice is the latest development in a series of reforms aimed at ensuring the integrity of South Africa’s elections. As the 2026 municipal elections approach, parties will need to demonstrate compliance with the new code to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
