SAMNET called on civil society, NGOs, academics, religious bodies and the public to make submissions to the South African Human Rights Commission on the impact and consequences of disinformation, and on the measures needed to counter it.

The argument

Over recent decades, innovation and technology have transformed how information moves, and empowered billions of people in the process.

That has been matched by the spread of propaganda, hate, abuse and prejudice — with consequences that have run to unrest, violence, mass murder and genocide.

Norms of ordinary human conduct — honesty, integrity, respect for others, safety, privacy — have been eroded across politics, journalism, healthcare, business, education and science, undermining public trust and enabling criminality and abuse.

Attempts to correct this through legislation have produced extremes in both directions: regulatory overreach that suppresses legitimate expression on one side, and, on the other, the recent removal of controls and oversight on globally connected social media platforms.

The capacity to share critical information instantly across borders has, on balance, produced better informed and better educated people. It has also produced global networks of hate, racism and crime running on intentional, coordinated disinformation — and with them a crisis of distrust and mistrust.

Breaking that cycle is a collective responsibility. It cannot be left to politicians, to wealthy and powerful individuals, to academics or to business.

What the SAHRC asked for

The Commission announced a Human Rights and Disinformation Summit examining how disinformation — the deliberate spread of false or misleading information — affects freedom of expression, access to accurate information, and the right to participate in public affairs.

Submissions were invited as research papers of up to 6 000 words, opinion pieces or commentaries of 1 500 to 3 000 words, or shorter case studies of around 1 000 words — in Word or PDF, 12pt, 1.5 spacing, with the author’s name, affiliation and contact details. The deadline was 3 April 2025, to zmqakaya@sahrc.org.za, copying ecarter@sahrc.org.za.

SAHRC media statement: call for submissions.

Email info@samnet.co.za.

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Shared by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) in the interest of human rights, and of fighting disinformation, Islamophobia and other forms of hate and prejudice.