Rhoda Omenya’s Post

Excellent panel discussion on electoral integrity with Katherine Mansted, Justin Bassi, Jeff Pope, and Subho Banerjee, following remarks from the Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O'Neil, and AEC Commissioner, Tom Rogers, here at the ANU National Security College as part of the Canberra Conference on electoral integrity. Some takeaways: 🤸♀️ social media, and the way it can be used in malicious messaging, has consequences for "echo chambers" of public discourse and the dangers of populism. In turn this has consequences for social cohesion. 💲 the threat landscape for elections and public information on elections includes commercial and not just public interests (i.e. $$ to be made in mis and disinformation); and a global resurgence in authoritarianism. ⛏ we are not helpless; we have tools. 🔥 and in a point very well made by Katherine Mansted , healthy democracies and peaceful elections will always require active vigilance - that is not peculiar to our time; BUT it is the character of the threats we face now, not least from the use of AI etc, that requires our careful attention.

"The crisis in Venezuela, which erupted following the recent presidential elections, has seen a significant deployment of the surveillance and control apparatus that the Venezuelan state has built up over recent years. This apparatus intersects with various elements related to communication technologies and has been repeatedly denounced by civil society and organizations defending internet freedom in the country. Nicolás Maduro’s government declares that it has arrested over 2,000 people in the past week, and the numbers of people killed and disappeared are unclear, with most sources indicating that at least 20 people have been killed in the protests, while another 25 have been forcibly disappeared. We are witnessing the consequences of a complex system created by more than 20 years of public policies and insidious political initiatives. This combines multiple restrictions on access to information through censorship, the decline of communication infrastructure, systematic harassment, information operations, and the closure of news outlets. Additionally, it employs surveillance technologies applied to intricate networks of interests and, in many cases, a population cornered by poverty." https://lnkd.in/eK8xxxiZ

Announcing a new publication from John K. Glenn of our esteemed partner, the National Endowment for Democracy, entitled "Year of Elections." Glenn's article discusses how millions globally are casting ballots amid challenges like authoritarian influence, technological manipulation, and the strategic use of generative AI to sway public opinion. These dynamics are testing democratic resilience in 2024, with elections in countries like Russia and Iran exemplifying authoritarian stage management and media control. Glenn also highlights Taiwan's innovative strategies in countering misinformation and promoting electoral transparency, crucial lessons for global democracy. Beyond voting, Glenn underscores the critical need to protect trust in democratic institutions amidst increased polarization and threats to democratic values. #Democracy2024 #ElectionIntegrity To learn more or to read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eV7EGujb

The by-election in Pakistan has plunged into a pervasive rigging apparatus. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, have been blocked, while internet connectivity remains plagued by persistent slowdowns and shutdowns. Following Imran Khan's public declaration implicating Pakistan's army chief in various human rights violations, including targeting PTI leadership, workers, and even members of Khan's own family, the situation has escalated. Innocent women and young members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (#PTI) remain detained by corrupt and criminal authorities, particularly those currently in power in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh. Numerous video recordings circulating on social media serve as damning evidence of the complicity of law enforcement agencies in these incidents. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Human Rights Watch (HRW) Amnesty International International Criminal Court (ICC) Transparency International International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC) United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, Pakistan (UNODC) International Justice Mission (IJM) Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Global Witness The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Institute for Art, Culture and Democracy EC-UNDP JTF Electoral Assistance European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations Organization for Development, Security and Sustainment OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) NETGRIT (NETWORK FOR DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY) Democracy Reporting International ELECTORAL REFORM INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED International Republican Institute Commonwealth Parliamentary Association European Parliament NATO Parliamentary Assembly African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) Latin American Association (Parlatino México) Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa asian parliamentary assembly Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

The by-election in Pakistan has plunged into a pervasive rigging apparatus. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, have been blocked, while internet connectivity remains plagued by persistent slowdowns and shutdowns. Following Imran Khan's public declaration implicating Pakistan's army chief in various human rights violations, including targeting PTI leadership, workers, and even members of Khan's own family, the situation has escalated. Innocent women and young members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (#PTI) remain detained by corrupt and criminal authorities, particularly those currently in power in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh. Numerous video recordings circulating on social media serve as damning evidence of the complicity of law enforcement agencies in these incidents. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Human Rights Watch (HRW) Amnesty International International Criminal Court (ICC) Transparency International International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC) United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, Pakistan (UNODC) International Justice Mission (IJM) Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Global Witness The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Institute for Art, Culture and Democracy EC-UNDP JTF Electoral Assistance European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations Organization for Development, Security and Sustainment OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) NETGRIT (NETWORK FOR DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY) Democracy Reporting International ELECTORAL REFORM INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED International Republican Institute Commonwealth Parliamentary Association European Parliament NATO Parliamentary Assembly African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) Latin American Association (Parlatino México) Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa asian parliamentary assembly Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Get ready for the biggest election year in history, along with challenges of not knowing what's true and what's false: #ai, mis/disinformation, #deepfakes, cuts in trust and safety teams across social media platforms, wars. What a time to be alive! 😅 Responsible #ai and regulations have never been more needed. "The single largest election this year, spanning April and May, will be for India’s Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, whose five hundred and forty-three members represent 1.4 billion people. The sprawling campaign will determine whether Narendra Modi remains Prime Minister and if his party will be forced to form a coalition. This election will closely follow one in Pakistan, which has been shaped by the criminal conviction and imprisonment of the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Pakistan may also offer a harbinger of the rise of #ai in elections: Khan, who has been blocked from making campaign and broadcast appearances, released a video with #ai generated audio of himself giving a speech. The second-largest election will be for the parliament of a polity that is still, in many ways, being formed: the European Union. That election will be held in June, across twenty-seven countries. The election will help to set Europe’s priorities, notably with regard to Ukraine. It will also be a barometer of the political moods of European nations, many of which are regarded as restless; right-wing populists won a surprise victory in the Netherlands last year. In North America, Mexico will choose a successor to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in June; the leading candidates are two women, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Gálvez. Not counting the E.U.’s joint poll, however, the continent with the most elections in 2024 is Africa—eighteen by The Economist’s tally—though some have yet to be scheduled. One of the more closely watched will be in South Africa, where the African National Congress has a significant chance of losing power for the first time in thirty years, largely because voters view its leaders as corrupt." #responsibleai #responsibletech https://lnkd.in/esZndPbA

Data breaches in politics can have far-reaching consequences. Political campaigns rely heavily on data to target voters, craft messaging, and allocate resources effectively. A data breach in a political campaign could compromise sensitive information about voters, campaign strategies, fundraising efforts, and candidate messaging. This could potentially influence election outcomes or damage the reputation and trustworthiness of political candidates or parties. Data breaches in political organizations or government agencies can undermine public trust in democratic processes and institutions. If citizens perceive that their personal information is not adequately protected or that political actors are manipulating data for partisan gain, it can erode confidence in the fairness and integrity of the electoral system. State-sponsored actors may target political organizations or government agencies to steal sensitive information, influence public opinion, or disrupt democratic processes in foreign countries. Data breaches in politics can be part of broader espionage efforts aimed at undermining rival nations or advancing geopolitical agendas.

Thank you everyone who has already contributed to the 10 eventful years with our inclusive Faktabaari community! On our anniversary Forum we got inspiration from our US partners also preparing to contribute for the election integrity at the time of social media and generative AI. With UW CIP inspirational Co-Founder Jevin West as our keynote, we were focusing to the citizen angle. Transatlantic co-operation among independent actors lime fact-checkers, researchers and media- and information literacy experts needs to be fostered. E.g. EDMO, NORDIS and CIP could build on this? Do get amazed, bit scared, most of all critical and practical in defending democracy at the digital age. Start e.g. with Jevin slides in Faktabaari blog below. The work for more fact-based public debate and digital information literacy continues. STOP THINK CHECK.

Senegal 🇸🇳, Tunisia 🇹🇳 and Ghana 🇬🇭 are among 35 countries that are planning elections in 2024. My colleagues Tonusree Basu and Tim Hughes share these recommendations to tackling digital threads to the electoral process: 🖥 Tackling disinformation is a permanent investment throughout the democratic lifecycle. 🙋🏻 Combatting disinformation is a whole of society effort. Addressing disinformation must use a human rights lens not to curb legitimate free speech. 🔎 Oversight and accountability institutions are an important protector and strengthener of democracy. 📰 Strong, independent national and local media are essential to providing high quality information. 📱 Digital platforms must be accountable for their role in democracy. Read here: https://lnkd.in/eB7jsFRX

The by-election in Pakistan has plunged into a pervasive rigging apparatus. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, have been blocked, while internet connectivity remains plagued by persistent slowdowns and shutdowns. Following Imran Khan's public declaration implicating Pakistan's army chief in various human rights violations, including targeting PTI leadership, workers, and even members of Khan's own family, the situation has escalated. Innocent women and young members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (#PTI) remain detained by corrupt and criminal authorities, particularly those currently in power in Islamabad, Punjab, and Sindh. Numerous video recordings circulating on social media serve as damning evidence of the complicity of law enforcement agencies in these incidents. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Human Rights Watch (HRW) Amnesty International International Criminal Court (ICC) Transparency International International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC) United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, Pakistan (UNODC) International Justice Mission (IJM) Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Global Witness The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Institute for Art, Culture and Democracy EC-UNDP JTF Electoral Assistance European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations Organization for Development, Security and Sustainment OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) NETGRIT (NETWORK FOR DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL INTEGRITY) Democracy Reporting International ELECTORAL REFORM INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED International Republican Institute Commonwealth Parliamentary Association European Parliament NATO Parliamentary Assembly African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) Latin American Association (Parlatino México) Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa asian parliamentary assembly Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe