The Electoral Commission has proposed sweeping new rules that could penalise political parties and candidates for spreading fake news, using AI-generated deepfakes and publishing misleading election content ahead of South Africa's 2026 Local Government Elections.
Political parties and candidates who deliberately spread false information during election campaigns could face penalties under a new Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) code aimed at combating disinformation ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The draft Electoral Code of Conduct on Countering Disinformation introduces measures to address the use of artificial intelligence, deepfakes and other digital tools that could be used to manipulate voters and undermine electoral integrity.
The proposed code applies to all election-related communications, conduct and campaign activities throughout the electoral cycle, both online and offline, including paid and unpaid content.
The IEC said the draft framework was intended to promote responsible communication while protecting constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, political participation and access to information.
