IEC records more than 700 misinformation complaints and enlists tech platforms ahead of 4 November

Scale and nature of complaints

IEC officials say the bulk of the complaints involve the misuse of photographs and AI-generated content. While the volume is notable, the commission reports that none of these complaints have so far threatened the overall election environment. The IEC has framed the issue as part of its broader integrity work ahead of voting.

Who the IEC is working with

The IEC has established partnerships with a mix of technology companies and civil society organisations. The named partners are Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and Moxii Africa. The commission says the collaboration builds on a framework it used during the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Why the partnerships matter, in the IEC’s view

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo highlighted the practical benefits of working directly with platforms. In his remarks he said:

“Our partnership with digital platforms is critical to ensuring that voters have access to credible, accurate and trustworthy information to make informed political choices. A technically flawless election can still lose public trust if citizens are overwhelmed by disinformation.”

Mamabolo also emphasised the speed of response such collaborations enable:

“Therefore, the partnership eliminates barriers to direct access to the platforms and enables instantaneous remedial action against disinformation peddlers.”

Platform and civil society responses

Representatives of the partner organisations described the initiative as part of a shared effort to protect electoral integrity. Microsoft South Africa’s Director of Government Affairs, Abongile Vanda, said:

“No single organisation can tackle disinformation alone, which is why Microsoft is pleased to join the Electoral Commission in this partnership.”

TikTok’s Government Relations and Public Policy Lead for Southern Africa, Tholoana Ncheke-Mahlaela, said the platform would keep directing users to reliable election information through its in-app Election Centre while working with fact-checkers and the IEC. Google’s Sipho Mtombeni commented specifically on AI-generated content, saying:

“This year, especially as people head to the polls, we know that a lot of concerns come about in relation to AI and AI-generated content. And we work quite hard to make sure that people have the necessary tools to be able to know what is correct information and what is generated misinformation.”

Moxii Africa’s director, William Bird, framed the collaboration as a commitment to information integrity, saying the partnership aims to help South Africans access accurate, trustworthy election information and participate with confidence.

Tools for the public: Real411

To channel public reports of suspected election-related misinformation, the IEC has designated the Real411 platform as a formal reporting mechanism. Members of the public can report through the Real411 website or its mobile application, and the service accepts reports in any of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

What the IEC can do with complaints

The commission outlined several possible remedies after investigating reported material. Depending on outcomes, the IEC may:

• Refer matters to the Electoral Court for sanctions;
• Request urgent intervention from online platforms;
• Issue public statements to correct false information.

Legal consequences under the Disinformation Code

The IEC has a recently gazetted document called the Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation (the Disinformation Code). The code applies to political parties, candidates and their representatives and carries the same sanctions as the broader Electoral Code of Conduct.

Among the penalties the commission highlighted are fines, prison terms and, in serious cases, deregistration. The IEC set out the potential consequences as fines of up to R200,000, prison sentences of five to 10 years, or the deregistration of candidates and political parties where warranted.

Scope of the initiative and what comes next

The IEC says the partnership will operate in good faith throughout the election period and includes support for voter awareness campaigns, training on disinformation and joint initiatives intended to reduce the impact of false or misleading election-related content. Tech companies and civil society partners welcomed the move as an important step in protecting democratic processes.

Why this matters to voters

As South Africans approach the local government elections, the IEC’s measures aim to ensure that voters can access verified information and that misleading content can be corrected promptly. While the reported complaints are numerous and focused on certain online platforms, the commission’s position is that, so far, none have undermined the overall election environment.

Voters who encounter suspected misinformation are encouraged to use the Real411 channel to report concerns in any official language, allowing the IEC and its partners to assess and act on reports in the run-up to polling day on 4 November.