Session
Organizer 1: Jim Prendergast, 🔒The Galway Strategy Group
Organizer 2: Len Manriquez, Adapt
Organizer 3: Samantha Dickinson, 🔒
Speaker 1: Renee DiResta, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Mevan Babakar, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Len Manriquez, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Daniel Bramatti , Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 5: David Ajikobi, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 6: Alex Walden, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Len Manriquez, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Jim Prendergast, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Samantha Dickinson, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We chose the roundtable format because we believe it presents the best opportunity for a highly interactive and collaborative session. Routables encourage engagements and participation from everyone involved. They can lead to more open and honest conversations and foster collaborative learning. We are requesting 90 minutes for 2 reasons. This is an extremely important and topical subject. 2024 will be an unprecedented year for electoral activity and unfortunately with that comes misinformation and influence attempts. We expect a full room and want to have ample time for discussion.
How can Election Coalitions increase public trust and safeguard fundamental democratic rights? What are the key elements to forming coalitions to responsibly address misinformation during elections? How can those interested in building an Election Coalition set up their partnerships to be effective?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will be introduced to the concept of Election Coalitions and hear directly from experts in this field about the best way to develop this concept in their country. During the session, they will hear: * Best practices: Gleaned from the most successful election coalitions of the past decade, these strategies offer a roadmap for effective collaboration. * Actionable advice: Learn how to build strong coalitions, develop impactful campaigns, and navigate the challenges of working with diverse stakeholders. * Real-world examples: Case studies showcase successful coalitions in action, providing concrete illustrations to inspire new initiatives.
Description:
By the time the 2024 IGF convenes, voters will head to the polls in 60+ countries and the European Union, representing about 49% of the world’s population.
Each election will play out in its own unique political, legislative, and technological context. Some countries may rely heavily on public broadcasting, while others rely on social influencers and communities for election information. Some countries may have rules in place to protect voters from harmful election fraud, while others may not, or to a lesser extent. There may be greater press freedoms in one country than in another. All these nuances mean that there is no panacea to combat misinformation during an election.
Election Coalitions are a powerful tool for combating misinformation. By bringing together news organizations, fact checkers, and community groups from within, each Election Coalition can work to serve the voters in a way that meets their specific needs in the run-up to an election. Election coalitions increase public trust and safeguard fundamental democratic rights while enhancing digital contributions to peace, development, and sustainability.
This panel will include experts in this field, including Alex Walden, Global Head of Human Rights at Google, who will set the stage about why Election Coalitions are needed to combat misinformation. Daniel Bramatti from Brazil and David Ajikobi from Nigeria will share insights and identify best practices from some of the most successful election coalitions from the past decade. Mevan Babakar, News and Information Credibility Lead at Google, will discuss a paper she has authored which studies the effectiveness of Elections Coalitions around the globe.
We want this session to be interactive, so we are planning this as a roundtable and will reserve 45 minutes of our session for Q&A and discussion among our speakers and our audience participants, in person and remote.
One of the goals for this session is that audience participants will feel empowered to form their own election coalitions in their countries. We want to see discussion move to action. Election Coalitions do not have to be nationwide events, but the speakers and organizers are committed to supporting those who want to implement what they learn. Opportunities for follow up will be explored at future events like RightsCon and National and Regional IGFs.
Hybrid Format: We will ask all participants, both in person and remote to be logged into Zoom so we can manage the question queue in a neutral manner, but when in doubt will defer to remote participants as sometimes they are more difficult to spot. Our onsite and online moderators will be in constant communication to ensure that we can facilitate questions and comments from both onsite and online participants. We will also consider the unique challenges and opportunities that remote participants face, such as time zone differences, technical limitations, and differences in communication styles. We will urge our speakers to use clear and concise language, avoid technical jargon, and provide context for all information discussed during the session to ensure that both onsite and online participants can follow along and understand the content.
Report
Disinformation campaigns can not only undermine electoral integrity but erode trust in institutions, diminish civic participation, and polarize societies.
Success of coalitions relies on the coordination and neutrality of the organizations and people involved.
Election Coalitions are a promising approach to build trust, promote credible information, and strengthen election resilience but their effectiveness depends on strong coordination, shared resources, and clear strategies.
Building Elections Coalitions is becoming easier because of the hard work of previous coalitions places like France, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, and the Philippines. There are lessons to be learned and resources to help other replicate these efforts.
This year was a pivotal moment in global electoral history, branded a "super year" as over 60 nations held elections. The stakes were monumental, with the spread of misinformation posing a significant threat to democratic processes. Against this backdrop, the IGF session "Combating Misinformation with Election Coalitions" brought together experts to explore how partnerships across sectors can counteract this menace.
Jim Prendergast opened the session, emphasizing the urgency of addressing disinformation campaigns. Such efforts are essential not only for safeguarding electoral integrity but also for rebuilding trust in civic institutions. Joining the discussion were Alex Walden of Google, Mevan Babakar, a former fact-checker now working for Google, David Ajikobi of Africa Check, and Daniel Bramatti, a veteran investigative journalist from Brazil. Together, they showcased a variety of experiences, innovations, and lessons learned.
A Collaborative Solution
Election coalitions comprised of journalists, fact-checkers, civil society organizations, and sometimes tech companies—are designed to tackle the unique challenges posed by misinformation. Mevan Babakar, speaking about Google’s role in fostering these coalitions, highlighted their potential to scale impact. She explained how election coalitions empower communities to counter disinformation by pooling resources, sharing findings, and amplifying reliable narratives.
Babakar shared insights from a six-month research project that analyzed successful coalitions worldwide. A consistent takeaway was the importance of tailoring efforts to the local context. Each country’s unique media consumption habits, election laws, and misinformation patterns necessitate bespoke strategies. For instance, radio remains a critical medium in parts of Africa, as noted by David Ajikobi, whereas digital platforms dominate in Europe.
Lessons from the Field
The session spotlighted several case studies that underscored the transformative power of collaboration:
- France (2017): The Cross-check coalition, led by AFP, united 30 organizations to combat election-related misinformation. By publishing hundreds of articles and reaching millions, the project demonstrated the power of trust-building among journalists. "Cross-check will always be special," reflected an AFP’s. "It built trust that outlived the election."
- Philippines (2022): The Facts First PH coalition exemplified innovation with its “mesh” strategy. By connecting 131 authoritative sources with over 100 local influencers and NGOs, the coalition amplified fact-checked content across communities. This layered approach was instrumental in building public trust and countering harmful narratives.
- Brazil (2018-2024): Daniel Bramatti recounted the evolution of Brazil’s largest election coalition, which began with 24 media outlets and now includes over 40 participants. Operating through consensus, the coalition’s rigorous fact-checking standards and collaborative spirit have allowed it to address not just election misinformation but also public health and climate disinformation. "A shared purpose motivates journalists more than competition," Bramatti remarked.
The Role of Technology
Technology has played a dual role in the fight against misinformation. While tools like generative AI have raised concerns about scaling disinformation, they have also provided new defenses. Babakar highlighted how AI-powered fact-checking tools are helping journalists identify recurring misinformation narratives and verify facts more efficiently. “It’s not about replacing human effort but supercharging it,” she said.
Prebunking, another innovative strategy, was also discussed. This proactive approach inoculates audiences against predictable misinformation by addressing false narratives before they gain traction. For example, in the UK, common election-related myths, such as claims about the invalidity of pencil-marked ballots, are tackled well in advance to prevent voter disenfranchisement.
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite their successes, election coalitions face significant challenges. In regions with deep mistrust between civil society and government, like Chad, building coalitions is arduous. Moreover, panelists acknowledged the resource-intensive nature of coalition-building, emphasizing the need for sustained support.
One recurring concern was the potential for accusations of censorship. Babakar, drawing from her fact-checking background, stressed that fact-checking is not about silencing speech but adding context. "Fact-checking is the free speech response to misinformation," she asserted, highlighting the importance of empowering communities to combat harmful narratives themselves.
Key Takeaways and Calls to Action
The session concluded with a series of reflections and recommendations. For those interested in forming election coalitions, the advice was unanimous: relationships matter. Building trust among partners, from journalists to civil society organizations, is foundational. Bramatti emphasized the importance of choosing a neutral coordinating body to ensure credibility and fairness. Ajikobi and Babakar echoed the need for long-term investment in trust-building, noting that the first coalition may not be the most impactful, but persistence pays off.
Babakar’s final thoughts were a call to action: “Election coalitions are not just about elections. They’re about building an ecosystem of trust and collaboration that can address broader societal issues.” As the session closed, participants left with a toolkit of strategies to combat misinformation in their own contexts.
Audience Participation
We had 45 minutes of interaction with in-person and online attendees. Several good questions as well as requests for the presentation from 5 participants.
Video of the session can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH5OyS7EVwY
Transcript of the session can be found at https://intgovforum.org/en/content/igf-2024-day-3-workshop-room-4-ws42-combating-misinformation-with-election-coalitions
The Geneva Internet Platform included this session in their coverage of the IGF. https://dig.watch/updates/election-coalitions-against-misinformation