AI & 2024 Election Disinformation
Election-related mis- and disinformation content took many forms on social media and messaging platforms ahead of and around the presidential and parliamentary elections of November 2024. AI-generated content formed an important part of disinformation campaigns in these spaces throughout the year
Disinformation & Foreign Influence
The electoral landscape was alive with claims, suspicions and speculation that foreign interests were meddling or attempting to do so, on behalf of local political actors, in the presidential and parliamentary elections of November 2024. Was there any truth to such perceptions and claims and is there something to be concerned about for the future?
Poor Journalism Fuels Election Disinformation
Poor reporting and media mistakes contributed to the spread of false information by amplifying smear campaigns and participating in narrative laundering in the run-up to and beyond the November 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections in Namibia.
Political Smear Campaigns
Political smear campaigns were deployed online ahead of the November 2024 elections. These campaigns were aimed at undermining the reputations, credibility and trust in particular candidates, parties and entities, including the electoral management body and the elections as a whole.
Abuse of Social Media & The 2024 Elections
Social media has become important for political communication and messaging, especially during electoral periods. However, often political actors (politicians and parties) use social media to engage in negative campaigning, by employing smears and spreading fake news or to intimidate and incite. This bulletin looks at how Namibian political actors, including politically connected or associated interests […]
Countering Election Disinformation
An overview of mis- and disinformation that affected Namibia’s 2024 national elections. The report is accompanied by five issue-specific bulletins that examine:
Problematic Influences – African national security narratives impacting Namibia
States have a legitimate mandate to protect national security. However, on a global scale, the concept of national security has increasingly become a problematic framework for state approaches to cyberspace and digital technology law. In many countries, the state frequently invokes the rhetoric of national security to justify authoritarian repression and human rights violations. In […]
Quality of Democracy Under Threat
New state mass surveillance powers and looming watered-down privacy protections will damage Namibia’s press freedom standing Just after 9 am on 3 May 2023 the Namibian presidency issued a statement to mark the country’s retaking of first position on the African continent on the 2023 World Press Freedom Index. Pride dripped from a World Press […]
Parliament In The Budget
The legislature’s direct share from the budget has increased significantly but are Namibian taxpayers getting value for their money?
Changes To Electoral Law Looming
Throughout 2022, electoral authorities gathered comments and inputs from stakeholders with a view to parliament amending the Electoral Act of 2014 before the 2024 national elections.
