WEBINAR| African Election Season and the Dangers of Social Media Misinformation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The webinar provides a valuable overview of the challenges posed by misinformation in African elections, with specific examples from Zimbabwe and Nigeria. The speakers offer a critical perspective on the role of social media, highlighting issues such as the lack of regulation, the influence of political elites, and the potential for misinformation to undermine democratic processes. The argumentation is largely qualitative and anecdotal, relying on the speakers’ expertise and observations rather than empirical data. While the discussion is insightful, it lacks concrete solutions or evidence-based recommendations, which limits its practical value.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The webinar demonstrates a moderate level of scientific rigor. The speakers are academics with relevant expertise, and the discussion is grounded in theoretical frameworks such as the colonial matrix of power. However, the presentation lacks citations to specific studies or reports, and the arguments are not systematically supported by evidence. The title accurately reflects the content, and the discussion stays on topic. The webinar does not provide a comprehensive review of the literature, but it offers a thoughtful analysis of the issues at hand.

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the dangers of social media misinformation during African elections.

6/10

The webinar features expert speakers with academic credentials, but the discussion is largely opinion-based and lacks empirical data or verifiable sources. The technical quality is uneven, with some connectivity issues.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 02:00Introduction by Dr. Odila Aayodel, head of the digital Africa research unit, setting the context of the webinar.
• 05:00Dr. Chidochashe Nyere introduces the first speaker, Dr. Alexander Rusero, highlighting his academic background.
• 10:00Dr. Rusero begins his presentation on the five pillars of misinformation: hoaxes, propaganda, disinformation, populism, and colonial matrix of power.
• 20:00Discussion of the Zimbabwean election context, including the delimitation report controversy and the role of cyber warriors.
• 30:00Q&A session begins with questions about youth engagement, censorship, and regulation of social media.
• 40:00Dr. Rusero responds to questions, discussing the lack of safety nets on social media and the need for civil society education.
• 50:00Further Q&A on deepfakes, censorship, and the role of social media in democratic elections.
• 1:00:00Discussion on the responsibility of citizens and the potential for authoritarian resilience.
• 1:10:00Concluding remarks and call for action from the speakers.

• UNESCO on information as a public good — Mentioned by Dr. Rusero in the context of information being a public good.

• UNESCO on information as a public good — Aligned with the webinar's emphasis on the importance of information for democracy.