Ahead of 2025 elections: UNDP, ERC join forces to combat hate speech, misinformation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently reaffirmed its commitment to work with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) in the fight against hate speech and misinformation. This partnership is strategically planned as Guyana gears up to host its Regional and General Elections in 2025.
This initiative was highlighted on Tuesday during a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Data Support and eMonitor Implementation. This ceremony was held at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown.
Speaking at the event was United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Guyana and Suriname, Gerardo Noto, who highlighted that issues such as hate speech and misinformation pose significant threats to the electoral process.
“As we approach the 2025 elections, we must confront the pressing issue of information pollution — the spread of false, misleading, manipulated, and otherwise harmful messages that threaten the integrity of democratic processes globally,” Mr Noto said.
He added that, in today’s society, inaccurate information tends to spread faster; therefore, it is important to protect vulnerable communities from these threats.
“In an era where misinformation spreads rapidly, the potential for division and conflict increases. Guyana’s diverse society is a threat, but it is important to keep it safe from manipulation that can make it vulnerable to information pollution; can exacerbate existing tensions, in particular hate speech; sow distrust among communities; and undermine our shared commitment to peaceful coexistence,” he declared.
The Resident Representative noted that both the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are actively working to implement and develop innovative solutions to tackle hate speech and misinformation.
“In this scenario, UNDP, with extensive experience in the field of democratic strengthening, is developing a series of innovative tools to support national, regional, and global efforts to promote information integrity and the resilience of information systems. Similarly, the ERC, being a constitutional entity mandated to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination, has long recognized the impact of hate speech on society and divisions, and is committed to proactive measures to counteract it,” he explained.
Through the signing of the MoU, Noto reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to working with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to develop new innovations and strengthen existing systems.
“As part of the MOU, UNDP will provide comprehensive support to the ERC, including technical assistance to strengthen ERC’s existing methodologies for mapping and countering disinformation and hate speech, strengthen ERC’s capacities to access social media data, providing crucial insights into information pollution, and enhancing the ERC’s technological infrastructure to better respond to these challenges,” Noto has said.
Central to the MoU is the powerful E-Monitoring Class System, a state-of-the-art social media monitoring and analysis tool that leverages artificial intelligence to track and analyze harmful content across various platforms. Currently, this innovative piece of technology has already been deployed in various countries in and out of the region, with different information dynamics helping to establish standardized language and comparative data collection, analysis and dissemination methodologies so that cross-border dialogue, learning and cooperation can be facilitated.