Geoshawk / Election Integrity Watch No.1
This past week, we saw three large countries go to the polls. Let's talk elections, MDM, and the broader implications for integrity in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Senegal.
In recent weeks, we saw vital elections unfold in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Senegal, each presenting unique challenges and insights into global democracy.
Amidst these elections, the issue of misinformation and disinformation emerged as a common antagonist, threatening the integrity of democratic processes.
These elections highlighted the resilience of electoral systems against such threats and the evolving nature of political campaigns in the digital age.
The role of technology, the efforts to combat misinformation, and the political dynamics at play offer good lessons for future electoral integrity initiatives.
And don’t forget - at the end of the article are 10 articles/headlines on EI & MDM!
Indonesia, Democratic Resilience, and MDM
Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, found itself at the crossroads of maintaining election integrity amidst constant misinformation and disinformation, with a side of foreign interference, all with the deployment of advanced digital tools. Buzzers were at the heart of Indonesia’s electoral discourse. The use of AI in generating and spreading false narratives challenged the electorate's ability to discern truth from fiction. Oftentimes, it posed a direct threat to the integrity of the democratic process. Indonesia was critical to watch to understand what the future of elections could look like under AI. This technological onslaught required a robust response from civil society and government entities alike, leading to the establishment of dedicated fact-checking units and digital literacy programs aimed at empowering voters with the tools necessary to navigate the murky waters of digital propaganda. Since the end of the election, civil society groups have been protesting over ethics violations and allegations of foul play at the highest level.
Buzzers: At the heart of Indonesia's electoral discourse were "buzzers" — individuals or groups paid to spread political propaganda online. It’s been an industry of sorts for several years now, even during previous elections.
Tech-Savvy Propaganda: The deployment of bots and fake accounts to amplify misleading content exemplified Indonesia's high-tech nature of modern political warfare.
Safeguarding Democracy: Efforts to educate the public on digital literacy became key, illustrating the need for societal resilience in the face of technological manipulation.
A positive? Some observers saw a reduction in misinformation volume compared to previous elections.
Foreign Interference: Some claims of foreign interference surfaced, specifically regarding Russia. Some observers of previous elections claimed Russia intervened maliciously via disinformation networks. Russia denied these claims, but it's not unlikely, given the country’s history of meddling in global elections and geopolitics.
Pakistan, Election Rigging, and MDM
Pakistan's elections highlighted the significant impact of misinformation on political narratives and voter perceptions. The strategic dissemination of fabricated content aimed at discrediting political figures and skewing public opinion underscored the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the influence of digital platforms on electoral integrity. The government and civil society initiatives to counteract misinformation through awareness campaigns and the promotion of digital literacy represented critical steps toward safeguarding the electoral process from the corrosive effects of MDM.
Digital Disinformation Campaigns: The sophistication of disinformation tactics, including the use of deepfakes, presented unprecedented challenges to election integrity in Pakistan. Various actors, including political parties, used AI as a political tool, like the PTI party. Deepfake videos were seen as well. False claims ranged from boycott announcements by major parties to manipulated videos. Social media platforms were shut down, and disruptions to internet services occasionally occurred throughout the election, further exacerbating the spread of misinformation.
Strengthening Electoral Safeguards: Initiatives to enhance public awareness and digital literacy were critical in combating the pervasive influence of misinformation on the electoral landscape. However, efforts were more robust in the Indonesian election.
Electoral Integrity and Political Shifts and Their Implications: PTI emerged with the most seats, contrary to analysts’ predictions, which raised questions for some observers about the credibility of the elections, sparking allegations of vote tampering and concerns over election integrity. In fact, a senior government official recently resigned, saying he helped rig the elections, sparking advocacy groups like the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan saying “involvement of the state bureaucracy in rigging in Pakistan is beginning to be exposed.”
Senegal’s Constitutional Council and Political Dynamics
In Senegal, the postponement of the presidential election initially scheduled for February 25, followed by its reinstatement by the Constitutional Council, thrust the country into a political crisis not seen for decades. Why? Senegal has been seen as an example of democracy in Africa. The move to overturn President Macky Sall’s postponement decision underscored the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions and highlighted the delicate balance between legal frameworks and political realities. The Council's role in navigating the complex interplay of legal, political, and societal forces was pivotal in maintaining a semblance of stability and integrity within the electoral process despite the broader context of political tension and the challenges posed by MDM.
MDM Amplifying Challenges?: MDM was not a massive issue in this election but was present.
Unrest: Protests occurred after the postponement decision, contributing to a fertile ground for MDM proliferation.
Government’s narrative: The government’s response to protests, including internet shutdowns and the arrest of opposition figures, was criticized for potentially spreading misleading narratives and restricting information flow.
Legal challenges: Excluding key opposition candidates based on legal technicalities further complicated the political landscape with online allegations of impartiality by the judiciary.
Civil Society Response: Civil society groups, trade unions, and young activists mobilized to protect the integrity of the election process, creating platforms like "Let’s Protect Our Election" and engaging in peaceful protests.
Upholding Democratic Principles: The Constitutional Council's adherence to constitutional mandates in the face of political pressure demonstrated a firm commitment to democratic governance.
Navigating Political Tensions: Despite significant opposition and calls for delay, the decision to proceed with the elections underscored the critical role of legal institutions in safeguarding electoral integrity against the backdrop of political instability and MDM.
The recent elections in Indonesia, Pakistan, and Senegal serve as a reminder of the challenges and complexities facing democracies in the digital age. Misinformation and disinformation, bolstered by technological advancements, have emerged as significant threats to the integrity of electoral processes worldwide. Each country saw varying levels of MDM - with Pakistan witnessing more than Indonesia and Indonesia witnessing more than Senegal. The lessons learned from these elections are invaluable for strengthening electoral integrity and democracy in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.
Now, we will finish with some interesting Election Integrity and MDM stories:
Technology industry to combat deceptive use of AI in 2024 elections (Microsoft)
Google, Anthropic announce measures to combat election disinformation (computing)
Civil society questions election integrity (jakartapost)
Tarrant County Election Integrity Task Force considering 3 cases of alleged fraud (yahoo)
China will ‘interfere’ in UK general election, warns Taiwanese diplomat (telegraph)
Hawaii Legislators Seek To Crack Down On AI-Generated Political Misinformation (civilbeat)
How to protect elections in the age of AI (gzeromedia)
Election watchdog busts political deepfakes ahead of April general election (koreaherald)
Deep fake videos of UK PM trigger alarm bells over detection methods (chinadaily)