International Data Privacy Day
Addressing issues of Mis- and Disinformation during the election period in commemoration of International Data Privacy Day.
Joining other Data Privacy Authorities and data protection civil organisations throughout the globe, the Regulator observed International Data Privacy Day 2024 with a focus on empowering data subjects about data protection and engaging responsible parties on the importance of compliance with data privacy laws.
The Regulator organised a series of events to create momentum around International Data Privacy Day and spread awareness on the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).An interesting topic was the centre of discussion which sought to tackle and address the phenomenon of Mis- and Disinformation during the election period.
As we officially close Data Protection week, we reflect on the milestones we have achieved from the webinars, public activation, media interaction to training sessions.
A webinar focusing on Misinformation and Disinformation during the election period
A webinar was held on 29 January 2024 in partnership with Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) which held robust discussions to come up with potential solutions to address the issue of Misinformation and Disinformation and the need for political parties to process personal information lawfully during the election period.
Misinformation and disinformation undermine the free flow of credible and reliable information. With technological advancements and heightened use of Artificial Intelligence, misinformation and disinformation thrive, and personal information is easily altered to perpetuate false information, which is quickly distributed on digital and social platforms.
The Regulator, as a custodian of information rights, has expressed grave concerns about the growth of misinformation and disinformation, particularly during the election period. It has the potential to greatly interfere with the rights to privacy and access to information. The Regulator has joined hands with other institutions to tackle the pandemic in a collaborative manner.
Chairperson’s Address to the National Party Liaison Committee
The Information Regulator Chairperson Adv. Pansy Tlakula during a stakeholder engagement addressed the National Party Liaison Committee, stressing the need to safeguard personal information by political parties, but also for them to be party to finding solutions toward tackling the issue of misinformation and disinformation during the elections period.
To ensure compliance with POPIA, she agreed to the need for multi-sector collaboration in educating the public and eliminating the spread of misleading information during elections. She also urged political parties to adhere to the Guidance Note on Processing Personal Information of Voters during the election period, which the Regulator developed.
Empowering Government Officials
The Regulator also facilitated a training session on POPIA at the Mpumalanga Premier’s office, training all Information Officers of the entire Mpumalanga Provincial Government administration.
The training session unpacked the conditions for lawful processing of personal information and outlined the POPIA Regulations which Information Officers must adhere to in order to ensure compliance with the Act in their respective departments. The session was rich with discussions that lead to the participants being skilled on how to safeguard personal information they process.
POPIA Public Awareness
A POPIA public awareness activation was held to educate the members of the public in Ekurhuleni the east rand of the Gauteng province on the importance of playing their part in the protection of their personal information and exercise their right to privacy. The public was encouraged to utilise the services of the Information Regulators and lodge complaints should their feel there was a violation of their human right.
