Election misinformation spreads faster than facts can be checked: 3 insights from Kenya’s experience
Despite having a robust network of fact-checkers, Kenya struggled with widespread election misinformation during the 2022 general election. Research suggests that false claims spread faster than corrections, and a majority of news consumers find it difficult to distinguish between real and fake news.
Why it matters
It highlights the limitations of fact-checking in the digital age and the ongoing threat of misinformation to democratic processes.
Fact-checking is the careful work of verifying a claim and publishing a correction if necessary. Unsplash https://theconversation.com/election-misinformation-spreads-faster-than-facts-can-be-checked-3-insights-from-kenyas-experience-287529 https://theconversation.com/election-misinformation-spreads-faster-than-facts-can-be-checked-3-insights-from-kenyas-experience-287529 Link copied Share article Share article
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Kenya went into its general election in August 2022 with one of the continent’s most developed networks for countering false information.
After the disputed 2007 vote – when rumours helped drive violence in which more than 1,200 people were killed – a dense network of fact-checkers emerged in the country. This includes organisations such as Africa Check and PesaCheck, backed by newsrooms, civil society groups and big tech platforms.
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