AN OVERVIEW OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INFORMATION REGULATOR’S GUIDANCE NOTE ON THE PROCESSING OF VOTER’S PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THE COUNTERING OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION DURING ELECTIONS

The South African Information Regulator (IR) published a Guidance Note on Processing
Voters’ Personal Information and Countering Misinformation and Disinformation during
Elections ( Guidance Note).
¹ This Guidance note provides political parties and
independent candidates with a clear framework for ensuring adherence to the
Protection of Personal Information Act 4 (POPIA) 2013. The Guidance Note outlines lawful
methods for processing personal data in the electoral process and offers strategies to
counter misinformation and disinformation, promoting transparency.
The Guidance Note strongly emphasizes the delicate balance between the free flow of
accurate information during elections and personal data protection. It underscores that
data protection, particularly in elections, is a cornerstone of democratic fairness. The
Guidance Note further highlights the necessity for political parties and candidates to
respect privacy and operate transparently. This transparency is crucial in ensuring the
integrity of the electoral process.