Cape town: As South Africa prepares for the 2026 Local Government Elections, the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and its use in hyper-local disinformation campaigns has emerged as a key concern for the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya warned that the 2026 polls are likely to see a shift from broad national misinformation to ward-specific deceptions driven by generative AI tools.
According to South African Government News Agency, Moepya highlighted that the primary challenge of the upcoming elections is the rise of generative AI in ‘hyper-local’ contexts. He mentioned the expected emergence of ‘deepfakes’ during these municipal elections, as identified by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF). Moepya was speaking at the Disinformation Dialogue 2026: ‘Countering Disinformation, Safeguarding Local Democracy’ held in Cape Town.
The dialogue, hosted by the Institute of Security Studies in collaboration with international bodies, addressed the digital age’s disinformation threats. Moepya noted vulnerabilities in procedures such as the voters’ roll, ballot box transportation, and manual vote tallying. These aspects are targeted due to their human elements, which can be misrepresented.
In response, the IEC has devised a strategy for 2026, including direct-to-citizen verification tools and the establishment of ‘Rapid-Response Pathways’. These initiatives aim to empower voters and counter false information at the community level through local media and youth networks.
Moepya described a shift from a ‘defensive’ posture to one of ‘radical transparency’, introducing measures like the ‘News Sausage’ approach to increase public trust in the election process. The IEC will utilize legal frameworks such as the Cybercrimes Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct to address harmful digital disinformation.
Emphasizing technology’s dual nature, Moepya remarked on its potential to both disenfranchise and empower voters. He called for a collective effort to maintain the integrity of the elections, involving various stakeholders from fact-checkers to international diplomats.
The dialogue featured participation from political representatives, lawmakers, international experts, and media organizations. The IEC has also conducted independent testing of its Voter Management Devices and results systems to ensure transparency and reliability at the voting stations.