Civic Watch, an advocacy group in Cameroon, is convening this week to address the looming online risks surrounding the upcoming elections in the Central African nation scheduled for next year.
Cameroonian Advocacy Group Gathers to Tackle Online Election Risks
As part of the #defyhatenow campaign, the discussion will center on devising strategies to counter disinformation and online hate speech during elections.
The focus will be on sharing best practices for advancing fact-checking initiatives in Africa, drawing insights from guest experts from Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria who have experience in combating similar challenges.
Civic Watch warns that future elections in Cameroon are susceptible to manipulation, potentially leading to societal instability and violence due to the misuse of the internet, the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the influence of social media platforms.
Efforts to Protect Electoral Integrity and Prevent Electoral Violence
Ngala Desmond Ngala, president of Civic Watch, emphasized the need for more effective preventive and reactive measures to safeguard electoral integrity and prevent electoral violence.
The goal of the gathering is to propose actionable strategies that can guide future efforts in protecting electoral processes and promoting peace.
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