With the US elections just around the corner, Meta and TikTok have joined other tech companies in signing the new Voluntary Guidelines for Electoral Integrity by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which outline the expectations and agreed-upon processes for companies working to “promote electoral integrity and increase trust in the information ecosystem.”
Under the agreement, which has also been joined by the technology giants Google and Microsoft, the companies will work towards a series of principles established through the enactment of electoral security and integrity measures, which will provide greater transparency in the different regions where they operate. This is particularly relevant considering that several elections of great interest will take place worldwide this year, including the European Union elections in June.
“The guidelines will help establish a framework for meaningful engagement and support between electoral authorities and technology companies,” IFES states in a statement. “They will establish clear policies and processes for sharing information about elections and ensuring that voters, especially those in newer and more vulnerable democracies, have access to high-quality information.”
“The channels of communication between technology companies and electoral authorities will also be improved, reinforcing institutions and at the same time reducing barriers to support the electoral integrity of smaller and newer companies that aspire to be responsible actors in elections.”
Since each region has different rules regarding information exchange and the political process, it is quite complicated for technology platforms to establish universal parameters that guarantee protection in all nations. This new agreement aims to improve the common approach to voter protection and facilitate information exchange and cooperation among key providers.
“We believe that these guidelines are based on the work we have been doing and provide shared practices that will benefit both Meta and our counterparts during a year in which so many elections are being held worldwide,” says Meta. Recently, the company launched a “specific Electoral Operations Center for the EU” that “will identify potential threats and implement specific mitigations in our applications and technologies in real time.”
