Misinformation threatens the ‘super election year’ of 2024

Increased state control over information flows

As the establishment of truth and fact becomes weakened, governments may be empowered to control information based on their internal interests under the garb of tackling misinformation. This could manifest through increased domestic censorship and propaganda by political groups to serve partisan agendas.

The report highlights the continued decline of freedoms related to internet access, press, and the flow of information across the world.

In response to misinformation, many countries are at risk of descending into broader repression of free speech and general access to information. This carries implications for civil liberties and constitutional safeguards citizens have come to expect.

India is the country where the risk of disinformation and misinformation was ranked highest. Out of all risks, misinformation and disinformation was most frequently selected as the largest by the experts, coming before infectious diseases, illicit economic activity, inequality in income, and labor shortages.

Evidence of the disruptive influence of misinformation has already been witnessed in recent local polls. Last year’s West Bengal state elections saw a barrage of fake news mainly targeting incumbent chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Multiple misleading claims regarding her religion, caste, and public statements were spread by opponents to portray her as anti-Hindu. This modus operandi of false character assassination is expected to play out on a national level in 2024.

While misinformation has always posed a threat to Indian elections, the coming polls face an unprecedented risk.

In 2015, when Digital India was launched, India was ranked 123 in capita data consumption. By 2021 we had become No 1 in the world.

Today, India is the world’s largest digitally connected democracy with over 830 million internet users from over 700 Districts which have 5G…

— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) February 8, 2024

With higher number of internet users, the risk is even bigger

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and polls in four state assemblies, the election commission of India (ECI) spotted more than 154 instances of fake news or misinformation on social media platforms.

Compared to the previous 2019 general elections, the number of Indian internet users has gone up by over 650 million in 2024. This expanding digital footprint makes more people than ever vulnerable to manipulation via fake posts, propaganda videos, and misleading online campaigns.

This underlines why the alarming World Economic Forum report merits serious attention in India. It echoes concerns of civil society groups about electoral misinformation threatening free and fair 2024 polls that determine the future of 1.4 billion citizens and the world’s biggest democracy.

WEF analysts conclude, ‘The presence of misinformation and disinformation in these electoral processes could seriously destabilize the real and perceived legitimacy of newly elected governments, risking political unrest, violence and terrorism, and a longer-term erosion of democratic processes.’

Fair democratic choice is a fundamental right the Indian constitution guarantees all citizens. Ensuring people can exercise that right responsibly, without undue external influence, should be the guiding principle for institutions working to combat misinformation ahead of the 2024 national elections.

The stakes are undoubtedly high this time round. But hope remains that with enough foresight and collective action, India can overcome this threat to protect both election integrity and citizens’ democratic freedom.