Read more from GNI Communications Manager Rocio Campos on the GNI Blog.
In 2019, 62 countries will elect leaders who will govern 3.28 billion people worldwide, and the interface between information and communications technologies (ICTs) and political communications will play a critical role.
In February 2018, GNI partnered with UNESCO on a half-day colloquium exploring ICTs and elections. Participants concluded that keeping the Internet accessible, digital infrastructure secure, and empowering technology users with access to quality information is critical for both electoral integrity and users’ rights.
On 3 May, GNI will again partner with UNESCO, hosting a session at the international World Press Freedom Day conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In “Understanding Electoral Information Flows: Mapping the Impact of Digital Technology from Network Disruptions to Disinformation,” participants will strive to develop a systems and data flowchart that can help policymakers, companies, elections administrators, elections observers, media, and other stakeholders identify and mitigate risks, improve planning and coordination, and enhance transparency around efforts to support elections.
Participants include GNI Policy Director Jason Pielemeier, and representatives from GNI members the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Facebook, and International Media Support. The session will be moderated by Abel Wabella, managing editor of Addis Zeybe.
Follow the conversation live at #WorldPressFreedomDay and @unescoNOW, and on the GNI Twitter page. The full program is available here.