Even in the poorest and most remote communities, someone can access information about others. Practices of good faith have kept insecurities low for millennia. Interconnectedness has long been crucial in building, maintaining, and – most importantly – protecting communities. The digital age’s proliferation of ways to connect, know, and trade has necessitated new ways of thinking about protecting community interests without hindering progress. This global challenge requires a global mindset, considering local dynamics.
The United Nations has introduced the Global Principles for Information Integrity as part of a comprehensive effort to tackle misinformation and ensure the integrity of digital information. These principles are set to inform a voluntary Code of Conduct aimed at fostering a responsible digital ecosystem that upholds human rights and promotes social justice. As a membership organisation, it goes without saying that it operates on offering general solutions that bear the potential to be applied by any of the 193 sovereign states. Thus, the Global Principles for Information Integrity have been categorised into: Societal Trust and Resilience; Healthy Incentives; Public Empowerment; Independent, Free and Pluralistic Media; and Transparency and Research.
In his address at the launch of the guidance, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed that the responsibility to safeguard public interest falls not only upon member states but technology companies as well. At the basic level, the principles lay out expectations of transparency, inclusion and accessibility, ethical governance, security and privacy. The most popular digital platforms across the globe are what were initially developed to create virtual communities, but have now come to represent a force that poses great opportunities and – at times – greater threats. In Botswana alone, user distribution for May 2024 saw Facebook leading the pack at 75.88 percent, followed by Pinterest (10.8 percent), Instagram (3.82 percent), Twitter (3.81 percent), YouTube (3.51 percent) and LinkedIn (0.9 percent), according to data collated by StatCounter. The introduction of the Data Protection Act places the country at an advantage in incorporating the guidance recommendations in its implementation.
The need for digital platforms to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information they disseminate was already a highlight during the 2018 US presidential elections. Under the guidance, platforms are encouraged to implement rigorous fact-checking mechanisms and employ technologies that detect and mitigate the spread of false information. By prioritising accurate information, platforms can build trust with their users and contribute to an informed public discourse. Similarly, transparency is crucial for maintaining user trust and accountability. This principle calls for digital platforms to be open about their data collection practices, algorithms, and content moderation policies. Transparency also involves disclosing any conflicts of interest and ensuring that users understand how their data is being used.
The push towards making digital platforms inclusive and accessible to all users regardless of their socio-economic status, language, or abilities is an essential leveler. The importance of multilingual support and user-friendly interfaces that cater to diverse populations cannot be denied as ensuring inclusivity can help bridge digital divides and promote equitable access to information. The scourge of online scams in Botswana through social media – such as the Ecoplexus scam and a clickbait deal scam that used false advertising to draw money from people’s accounts – highlights the additional need for protecting user data and ensuring the security of digital platforms is paramount. This principle mandates that platforms implement robust security measures to guard against data breaches, cyberattacks, and unauthorised access. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of respecting user privacy and obtaining informed consent for data collection and usage.
Ethical governance involves the development and enforcement of policies that promote responsible behaviour on digital platforms. This principle calls for the establishment of clear guidelines on acceptable content, as well as mechanisms for addressing harmful behaviours such as hate speech and harassment. In an article for the Association of Progressive Communications on Botswana’s e-government privacy pitfalls, Thapelo Ndlovu cautions that some of the nation’s laws – such as the Corruption and Economic Crime Act of 1994, Cyber Crime and Computer Related Crimes Act of 2018, and Public Service Act of 2008 – end up being disabling to stakeholders such as media practitioners through conditional application. As such this principle also advocates for the involvement of diverse stakeholders in policy-making processes to ensure that different perspectives are considered.
The technological development sector across Africa has seen a considerable boost in recent years. In 2023, venture capital (VC) funding for African tech start-ups reached a record high of USD 4.4 billion, representing a 35 percent increase from the previous year according to analyses by TechBullion. The number of active tech start-ups on the continent also grew by 20 percent, reaching over 7,000 by the end of 2023. This growth is expected to continue, with the African tech ecosystem projected to create 3.5 million jobs by 2027. Key sectors driving this growth include fintech, which accounted for 31 percent of all VC funding in Africa in 2023, raising over USD 1.4 billion. Other notable sectors include clean energy (USD 600 million), agriculture (USD 300 million), healthcare (USD 200 million), and education (USD 150 million). The e-commerce market is also expanding rapidly, with expectations to reach USD 29 billion by 2025.
In light of this exponential and unprecedented growth, Guterres’ reminder that tech companies “must acknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities” cease to be fearmongering but fact. “You have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world”, said the humanitarian, continuing “you have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate.” The potential of African tech start-ups is bolstered by the continent’s fast-growing middle class, which is expected to reach 2.6 billion people by 2030, and increasing mobile internet penetration, projected to reach 50 percent by 2025. Despite challenges such as talent gaps and regulatory complexities, investor sentiment remains positive, with 60 percent of investors planning to increase their investments in African start-ups in 2024. By integrating ethical practices into their business models, these companies can drive significant positive change in the digital landscape in their locales as well as globally.
Far from being a major task, the paradigmatic shifts can be quite simple. One such way is developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) systems that prioritise fairness, transparency, and accountability; as ethical AI can help identify and mitigate biases in algorithms, ensuring that content recommendations and moderation practices are fair and just. Additionally, close collaboration with governments, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders can result in the development and implementation of a corresponding Code of Conduct for the digital environment. Through supporting digital literacy programs that educate users on how to critically evaluate online information the dual task of empowering users with the skills to discern credible sources, and embedding fact-checking within their operation the impact of misinformation can be substantially reduced. Lastly, implementing transparent reporting mechanisms and holding themselves accountable through regular audits and public reports on content moderation and data practices, allows for a mutually informative relationship committed to ethical governance.
While the Global Principles for Information Integrity offer guidance, it remains the responsibility of governments and their relationships with technology businesses to safeguard the interests of the present and future communities. With a vast majority of the world’s population being categorised as youth, they have already interacted with the positive and negative impacts that populate the breadth of the digital environment. As a borderless landscape, its governance is a shared responsibility that influences the politics of life and economics alike. Every country has the opportunity to not be left behind on this crusade.
