The Global Coalition for Tech Justice is concerned about the ongoing disinformation campaign targeted at the Republic of South Africa, particularly the spread of falsehoods about the country’s land expropriation and affirmative action policies. These baseless narratives and conspiracies, fueled by powerful figures in the United States of America, are reigniting historical racial tensions as well as undermining South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
Weaponising South Africa’s land policies
South Africa’s Land Expropriation Act emerges from a constitutionally mandated and lengthy democratic process designed to address centuries of dispossession and systemic exclusion under colonialism and apartheid. Mischaracterising these efforts as a “white genocide” or an abuse targeting a specific community is a deliberate and dangerous distortion of reality, one that not only disregards the complex historical harms suffered by the majority of South Africans but also dismisses the carefully designed checks and balances intended to ensure inclusive, lawful, and sustainable land reform.
It is in this context that Elon Musk, a beneficiary of apartheid South Africa, has personally spread disinformation about the Land Expropriation Act and other laws, and used his platform, X, to amplify falsehoods about its intended purpose. As one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, the owner of a global social media platform and AI system and wireless satellite service, as well as a special employee of the new Trump administration in the United States, Musk wields disproportionate influence. From his financial and ideological support of far-right parties in Europe, his 2024 campaign to discredit Brazil’s government and judiciary who had tried to impose accountability on Musk and his platforms, to his recent suspected illegal attempts to access the U.S. Treasury payments data, Musk’s actions are constantly eroding public trust in democratic institutions, and stoking social and political unrest. Additionally, Musk’s involvement in the attempted shutdown of USAID programmes and the freezing of foreign aid programmes will have devastating consequences for vulnerable communities and civil society organisations that rely on these lifelines for survival.
We therefore call for immediate international scrutiny of his conduct, which could include investigations under applicable domestic, regional, and international laws.
Governments worldwide should consider placing Musk on relevant watchlists as a high-profile individual of concern, given his foreign interference efforts to undermine social cohesion and erode trust in democratic institutions.
X is a platform for dangerous disinformation
X, Musk’s social media platform, should also be declared a dangerous platform for disinformation. Its problematic “Community Notes” model has resulted in minimal corrective information being provided about South Africa’s land expropriation policies—leaving thousands, if not millions, exposed to unverified and false content that distorts both South African policy and broader societal realities. Because Community Notes relies heavily on user-driven moderation, it often proves inadequate in addressing coordinated disinformation campaigns. Such a model is especially risky during crises or when social tensions run high; by the time users add corrective notes or flags, the misleading information may have already caused significant harm and perpetuated further disinformation.
Disinformation must not be treated as a peripheral issue; it is a grave threat to democracies worldwide. By distorting facts, weaponising historical grievances, and exploiting digital platforms, orchestrators of these campaigns aim to fracture societies and incite violence. As people of the world, we must all remain vigilant and united in countering these efforts, which undermine free and fair discourse, erode trust in governance, and imperil social cohesion. Digital literacy and ethical behaviour from tech companies remain imperative in the fight for platforms that put people and human rights before profit.
Meta and other social media companies should not rely solely on Community Notes as a system for content moderation, but instead implement robust, transparent mechanisms, including professional fact-checking and clear enforcement policies, to protect the public from harmful falsehoods.
Reinforcement of the information integrity agenda through the G20
With South Africa assuming the G20 Presidency in 2025, it is imperative that world leaders continue to prioritise information integrity as a cornerstone of global stability. Building on efforts during Brazil’s G20 Presidency in 2024, South Africa’s G20 leadership offers a pivotal opportunity to champion these reforms and reinforce the global commitment to combating the ever-evolving threat of disinformation.
Governments must now move beyond rhetoric and take decisive, coordinated action. By introducing strong regulations, demanding transparent platform governance, and fostering international collaboration among stakeholders, we can uphold democratic values, and guard against manipulative narratives.
This initiative is organized by the Campaign On Digital Ethics (CODE) South Africa in partnership with members of the Global Coalition for Tech Justice (GCTJ).
Signed by:
The Global Coalition for Tech Justice
***************************************************************
About the Coalition:
The Global Coalition for Tech Justice is a vibrant civil society movement of human rights organizations and defenders, fact-checkers, journalists, and champions of digital rights and corporate accountability. We have over 250 member organizations and individual members from over 55 countries worldwide. The Coalition is led by a Steering Group drawn from the membership and convened by Digital Action. For more information visit: https://www.globaltechjustice.org/
Comments