Kofi Annan Commission calls for urgent action to save elections from digital threats

The Kofi Annan Commission, a not-for-profit group, on Thursday called for urgent action by governments, business and civil society to protect democracy from digital threats.

In a report released here during the WEF 2020 week, the commission set out actionable recommendations in five major areas -- polarisation, hate speech, disinformation, political advertising and foreign interference.

The commission said the current debate on the impact of digital platforms is dominated by claims based on inconclusive evidence and competing or incomplete data.

Besides, the rise of the transnational business of election influencing poses risks to democracy if it is not regulated, while democracies in the Global South are the most vulnerable to digital threats.

It also said countries with pre-existing polarisation, a history of violence, and highly partisan media are particularly vulnerable to the weaponization of social media.

"The use of digital technologies during elections have become a source of concern after they have been weaponized during key events such as recent protests in Hong Kong, the 2019 EU Parliamentary elections, and the past US Presidential campaign," it said.

This report comes at an inflection point where if action is not taken, electoral integrity will be at risk in key elections around the world this year, it added.

Laura Chinchilla, Chair of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, said much of global attention has been on digital threats and foreign manipulation of elections afflicting Western countries.

"For the first time, we take a particular look at the Global South, where new democracies or those in transition are particularly vulnerable to digital threats but where promising democratic developments are also taking place."