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Election Commission Partners with TikTok to Combat Misinformation During Elections
The Election Commission (EC) of Nepal has taken a significant step toward ensuring electoral integrity by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TikTok, the popular social media platform. The agreement, finalized on Wednesday at the EC Office, aims to curb harmful and misleading content that could influence upcoming elections.
The MoU was exchanged between EC Joint-Secretary Narayan Prasad Bhattarai and Ferdous Mottakin, Head of Public Policy and Government Relations for South Asia at TikTok. Under the agreement, TikTok will provide assistance to the Commission at no cost, focusing on three key electoral objectives: Integrity, Empowerment, and Partnership.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari expressed concerns about technology misuse on digital platforms potentially affecting the electoral environment. “TikTok’s collaboration will be effective in conducting elections in a clean, fair, and fear-free environment, as well as in controlling misinformation,” Bhandari said following the signing ceremony.
The Commission expects this partnership to help control misleading information, facilitate the dissemination of official messages, ensure reliable information reaches users, and create a safe space for voters ahead of the House of Representatives elections.
Joint-Secretary Bhattarai emphasized the Commission’s confidence that this collaboration would not only promote electoral integrity but also strengthen Nepal’s democratic system and support ongoing efforts to curb harmful content that could influence the election process.
Mottakin highlighted TikTok’s commitment to responsible platform management during elections. “Elections are a critical moment for any democracy and TikTok recognizes its responsibility as a platform that helps shape public discourse. Through this partnership, we aim to support informed participation, promote election integrity, and provide a safe space for positive digital expression,” he said.
As part of the initiative, a TikTok delegation conducted an Election Integrity Workshop focused on promoting responsible digital engagement, combating misinformation, and strengthening understanding of election integrity among key stakeholders.
The collaboration comes at a crucial time when social media platforms are increasingly scrutinized for their role in democratic processes worldwide. In recent years, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok have faced criticism for allowing the spread of election misinformation in various countries.
TikTok outlined several measures it plans to implement during the electoral period. The platform will prohibit paid political advertising and prevent government bodies, politicians, and political parties from fundraising or using monetization features. According to TikTok, 98.5 percent of harmful election misinformation is removed before being reported.
The platform also plans to combat deceptive practices such as account impersonation, fake engagement, and covert influence operations. Users will be provided with verified election information through an in-app Election Centre, content labels on election-related posts (including AI-generated material), and clearly marked verified political accounts.
Content verification will be supported by more than 20 fact-checking partners who will review information accuracy. Creators will be required to label realistic AI-generated content, while harmful misleading AI content, hate speech, violent threats, and content promoting violence or criminal activities will be prohibited.
To ensure effective implementation, TikTok has assembled a dedicated election task force supported by advanced moderation technology and global safety teams to maintain a safe online environment during Nepal’s elections.
This partnership represents a growing trend of electoral bodies worldwide collaborating with social media platforms to safeguard democratic processes in the digital age, recognizing both the influence these platforms wield and their potential role in supporting electoral integrity.
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15 Comments
While the intent is commendable, I have some concerns about the potential for overreach or censorship under the guise of combating misinformation. Maintaining a balance between free speech and election integrity will be critical.
That’s a valid concern. Robust oversight and clear guidelines will be necessary to ensure the measures taken are proportionate and not infringing on legitimate discourse.
Glad to see TikTok partnering with the Election Commission to combat misinformation during elections. Transparency and collaboration are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
Absolutely. Proactive measures to curb the spread of misleading content are essential in the digital age.
This partnership is a positive development, but I hope it’s just the beginning. Continuous refinement and expansion of these efforts will be needed to stay ahead of the evolving challenges posed by online misinformation.
This is a positive step, but the real test will be in the execution and enforcement. Rigorous fact-checking and content moderation will be key to effectively addressing the issue of election-related misinformation.
You raise a fair point. The success of this partnership will depend on the implementation and the ability to swiftly identify and remove harmful content.
It’s encouraging to see the Election Commission and TikTok taking concrete steps to address the issue of misinformation. Maintaining public trust in the electoral process is crucial for democracy.
I agree. This collaborative approach sets a good precedent and could inspire similar initiatives in other countries and platforms.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific mechanisms and processes that TikTok and the Election Commission will use to identify and counter misinformation. Transparency around their approach would be helpful for public confidence.
Agreed. Detailed information on the collaborative framework and accountability measures would provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of this initiative.
This is an important partnership, but the challenge of misinformation is a complex and persistent one. Continuous monitoring, adaptation, and coordination with other platforms will be essential to stay ahead of evolving tactics.
I’m encouraged to see this level of engagement between the Election Commission and a major social media platform. Addressing election-related misinformation is a shared responsibility that requires multi-stakeholder efforts.
Well said. Collaborative initiatives like this can serve as a model for other countries and platforms to follow in strengthening the integrity of the electoral process.
Kudos to the Election Commission and TikTok for taking this proactive step. Effective collaboration between tech companies and electoral authorities is crucial in the digital age.