S. Africa fights disinformation with tech giants

The Electoral Commission of South Africa has partnered with social technology giants, including TikTok, Google and Meta, to tackle misinformation and disinformation as the country prepares for next month's general election.

Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, director of public policy and government relations at TikTok Africa, said the move aims to provide facts to South Africans for them to make an informed choice during elections. TikTok is also working with other organizations such as South African Human Rights Commission to tackle fake news.

TikTok is disseminating information related to the elections in five local languages, such as the voting date and requirements for eligibility, he said. It is also running education sessions for voters provided by the Electoral Commission.