Delhi Declaration 2025: Global Election Bodies Unite Against Social Media ‘Pollution’
NEW DELHI – In a landmark move towards safeguarding the integrity of democratic processes worldwide, election management bodies (EMBs) from 13 nations convened in New Delhi, culminating in the adoption of the "Delhi Declaration 2025." This pivotal declaration reflects a unified commitment to combat the rising tide of misinformation and "social media pollution" that threatens to undermine free, fair, and inclusive elections. The conference, presided over by India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, brought together leading election authorities to address the growing challenges posed by the proliferation of fake news and manipulative algorithms on social media platforms.
Central to the discussions was the urgent need for proactive measures to counter the spread of disinformation, mirroring the approach taken towards environmental pollution. CEC Kumar emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "The entire social media space is polluted. If we have environmental pollution outside, equally serious social media pollution we have inside. It needs anti-pollution measures.” He argued that social media companies, driven by profit motives, appear to be complicit in the spread of misinformation, likening their approach to "first spreading the disease and then selling medicines."
Kumar called for a "Graded Response Action Plan" (GRAP) to address social media pollution, similar to the graded responses implemented to combat air pollution. He stressed the inadequacy of relying solely on fact-checkers to debunk false narratives after they have already proliferated. “It is not enough to leave it to fact checkers to detect it. It is like allowing easily detectable fake to pass through and then leave it to organizations at receiving end, like the EMBs, to engage fact checkers and rescue themselves and the electoral process”, he articulated. The CEC urged social media platforms to take greater responsibility in curbing the spread of easily identifiable fake news and misleading content, emphasizing the need for proactive intervention rather than reactive measures.
A key concern highlighted by the participating EMBs was the design of social media algorithms, which often reinforce existing biases by repeatedly presenting content aligned with a user’s pre-existing views, thus creating "echo chambers" and hindering exposure to diverse perspectives. Kumar pointed out that these algorithms could be modified to prevent the dissemination of verifiable fake news, questioning why this capability was not being utilized effectively. He urged social media companies to introspect and take corrective action before their platforms become irrevocably tainted by misinformation and manipulation. "Let the social media platforms, which have been instrumental in providing a critical space for free expression, especially to voices not heard, not be clouded by the shadows of fake, unverified and misleading narratives, disruptive by design," he appealed.
The Delhi Declaration 2025 marks a significant step towards international cooperation in tackling the shared challenge of misinformation in the electoral context. The participating EMBs expressed shared concern over the pervasive nature of false narratives on social media and their potential to manipulate public opinion and undermine electoral integrity. As a concrete outcome of the conference, the EMBs resolved to establish a dedicated working group to address this issue collaboratively, sharing best practices and developing strategies to counter the spread of misinformation and protect the sanctity of democratic elections.
This international collaboration signifies a growing recognition of the transnational nature of the threat posed by online disinformation and the need for coordinated global efforts to safeguard the integrity of democratic processes worldwide. The Delhi Declaration 2025 serves as a powerful testament to the resolve of election authorities across the globe to ensure that the digital age empowers, rather than endangers, the democratic ideals of free, fair, and inclusive elections. The establishment of the working group represents a vital step towards developing effective strategies and mechanisms to combat the insidious influence of misinformation and preserve the integrity of the electoral process in the face of evolving technological challenges.