IGF 2020 WS #130 Election in times of disinformation

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Session

Time:

Friday, 13 November, 2020 - 11:20 to 12:50 UTC

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Room:

Room 1

About this Session:

Co-organized by UNESCO and UNDP, this workshop underlines the essential role of the media and electoral stakeholders in ensuring trust during the election process, and the need to tackle disinformation through such means as monitoring and fact checking, journalistic investigation, actions by online platforms including curatorial and technical responses, and through promoting media and information literacy.

Thematic Track:

Trust

Topic(s):

Democracy
Disinformation
Freedom of Expression

Organizer 1: Guilherme Canela Godoi , UNESCO
Organizer 2: Mehdi Benchelah, UNESCO
Organizer 3: Andrea Cairola, UNESCO
Organizer 4: Dan Malinovich, UNDP
Organizer 5: Malgorzata Wisniewska, UNDP

Speaker 1: Guy Berger, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Sarah Lister, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 3: Mathilde Vougny, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 4: Souhaieb Khayati, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 5: Laura Zommer, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 6: William Bird, Civil Society, African Group

Format:

Debate - Auditorium - 90 Min

New Online Format:

Debate

Description:

The proposed debate will use a multistakeholder approach – through the participation inter alia of electoral management bodies or practitioners, audiovisual regulatory bodies, Internet platforms, electoral observers (from CSOs and from IGOs), and journalists – in tackling the question of elections in times of disinformation. In so doing, the discussions will involve a debate on policies aiming to keep trust in the election process, and the role of each stakeholder to tackle this challenge, particularly in relation with fighting disinformation.

In addition, given the current and unprecedented global crisis brought upon by the COVID-19 outbreak, the issue of online and mobile voting will also be addressed, in order to discuss alternative ways of organizing elections (including alternative ways to vote and campaign) that would minimize contact and exposure in the context of a pandemic.

Issues:

Elections constitute a key moment in political life as they allow citizens to express their choices and designate the political representatives who will determine important aspects of the present and future of their countries. Because of their critical importance, election periods are also a time where disinformation (so called “fake news”) can proliferate, with the aim of misleading the public and propagating false information about various issues and interests. Electoral disinformation also may be criminalized in disproportionate or arbitrary ways.

In addition, the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has given rise to a new challenge: how to ensure free, fair, and safe elections in the face of a pandemic? To that effect, the proposed session shall seek:

1. To discuss good practices and lessons learnt that already took place in all regions of the world on how to deal with the impacts of disinformation (particular the one circulating in social media), and other health crisis, in the electoral processes;

2. To debate policies aiming to keep trust in the election process and the role for each stakeholder to tackle this challenge, particularly in relation with legitimate actions to combat disinformation, including during a health crisis;

3. To discuss alternative ways of organizing an election (including ways of voting and campaigning) in times of a pandemic.

Policy Question(s):

1. What can be the role of each stakeholder (including electoral management bodies, audiovisual regulatory bodies, Internet platforms, electoral observers from CSOs and from IGOs, and journalists) to tackle the challenge of disinformation and to keep trust in the election process?

2. In light of the current and unprecedented global crisis brought upon by the COVID-19 outbreak, how can free, fair, and safe elections be ensured in the face of a pandemic?

Expected Outcomes:

Taking into account the aforementioned issues, the session envisions the following expected results:

1. Enhancing the participation of electoral management bodies, audiovisual regulatory bodies, Internet platforms, electoral observers (from CSOs and from IGOs), and journalists in the Internet governance debate;

2. Awareness raised by the aforementioned stakeholders and the public on freedom of expression standards, strategies to address the disinformation phenomenon and good practices in times of elections;

3. Fostering South-South and North-South cooperation among existing networks of electoral management bodies, political leaders, Internet platforms, electoral observers (from CSOs and from IGOs) and journalists on Internet governance issues.

Relevance to Internet Governance

Internet Governance is, by definition, a multistakeholder endeavor. However, within the different aggregated groups normally joining the discussion (governments, for instance) we also have a multiplicity of other players that are relevant to the debate, but quite often aren’t part of it.

Electoral authorities, electoral observers (from CSOs and from IGOs), and journalists have a key role to play in tackling disinformation while defending freedom of expression and access to information during times of election, and building trust within the population in order to ensure free and fair elections. This session, which focuses on elections in times of disinformation, seeks to bring their perspective to the Internet Governance arena.

Relevance to Theme

A free, independent and pluralistic media landscape plays an important role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16.10 on peace, justice and strong institutions. It is also crucial to democracy, particularly during electoral periods. Without a free press, there can be no democracy.

Keeping trust in the election process – and the information being shared during this process - is a fundamental prerequisite to ensure free, fair, and safe elections. Therefore, this workshop underlines the essential role of the media and electoral stakeholders in ensuring trust during the election process, and the need to tackle disinformation through such means as monitoring and fact checking, journalistic investigation, actions by online platforms including curatorial and technical responses, and through promoting media and information literacy.

Moderator:

Mehdi Benchelah, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Online Moderator:

Dan Malinovich, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Rapporteur:

Andrea Cairola, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization

Discussion Facilitation:

The session is conceived as a talk-show, with a strong role being played by the moderators in involving the invited speakers and audience in contributing to the achievement of the key expected outcomes of the session.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool.

SDGs:

GOAL 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Reference Document

Agenda:

Introductory remarks (10min):

Mr. Guy Berger, UNESCO Director of the Division for Communication and Information Strategy and Policy ; and Ms Sarah Lister, UNDP Head of Governance.

Multi-regional perspective (40 min):

Electoral management bodies, Audiovisual regulatory bodies, electoral observers (from CSOs and from IGOs), and journalists from Africa, Europe and Latin America will present their achievements in tackling the question of disinformation and the challenge in organizing or covering elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Critical approaches (10 min):

Representatives of Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector (including Internet platforms) will offer their views on the key elements presented during the multi-regional perspective.

Open debate with the audience (30min).

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IGF 2020 WS #130 Election in times of disinformation

Information