G20 alert — the assault on information integrity is intensifying

Daily Maverick

2 days ago

The Group of 20 is easily dismissed as a talk shop with little substance. The gathering of ministers and heads of state of the world's richest economies is dissed for being a bloated bureaucracy, a clubby talkshop that lacks legitimacy, inclusivity and impact.
It passes by the general public annually as background noise.
But thanks to Donald Trump and his theatrical threats, it is well known not only in South Africa but globally that this year's G20 is being hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa – the first time an African head of state has been handed the honour.
What remains background noise are the engagements taking place weekly in the build-up to the G20 Summit in November, which is centred on three core themes: solidarity, equality and sustainability. Just take a glance at the packed G20 calendar to get an idea of the weighty agenda right now. The G20 programme encompasses 13 engagement subgroups from an array of interests, including the O20 (Oceans), C20 (Civil), W20 (Women), B20 (Business) and Y20 (Youth).
The absence of Media in the formal structure is conspicuous. But no matter, the media has a window of opportunity to nudge public interest issues onto the agenda, and into key declarations, through the creation of its own M20. The M20 is a parallel, collaborative initiative operating outside the G20 tent. This year, it has been initiated by the SA National Editors' Forum, Media Monitoring Africa and other partners.
Key media issues elevated during the Brazil G20 presidency in 2024 are being pursued again. Priorities are information integrity, artificial intelligence, copyright, sustainability and climate reporting.
The starting blocks are already in place, emerging from the 2024 G20. The Digital Economy Working Group published a declaration that incorporates attention to the importance of digital inclusion for all, and the Brazilian government launched a Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change.
There is an urgency to build on these gains, especially at a time of heightened unaccountability, counterfeit journalists, deepfakes, bullying, attacks on journalists and a daily struggle by the media to stay afloat.
It is hard to keep track of the assaults on media and threats to information integrity.
This week, for instance, a journalist in Ethiopia, Ahmed Awga, was given a two-year jail sentence for ' disseminating hateful information via a Facebook post he did not author'.
In South Africa, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection issued a 'fake news' alert after an analysis about the interest of Elon Musk's Starlink in South Africa was circulated on X under the false pretence that it was penned by its executive director, Joel Netshitenzhe.
Also in South Africa, word broke that the Mail & Guardian, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary of gutsy investigative journalism, is on its knees and slashing jobs to stay afloat.
In the US, all remaining staff at Voice of America were expecting termination notices, 'effectively shutting down the international broadcasting network, according to Politico.
Yet, against this disruptive backdrop, the first published M20 policy brief notes that the G20 programme gives less attention to information integrity this year compared with 2024. The G20 will, however, host a workshop on generative AI 'and its evolving ability to produce high-quality deepfakes at a lower cost, and the impact on information integrity, and consideration of possible recommendations'.
The policy brief, which is open for comment, spells out both the potential for the G20 to make a difference, and the threat in the media space right now: 'Media engagement on the G20's interest in 'information integrity' can make a difference as to whether journalism's strength and standing can make gains – or if current troubling media trends stay as they are, or go more horribly wrong.'
Right now, the outlook is bleak. The public interest media space is wilting, as the offensive against information integrity is advancing.
Now is not the time to let cynicism silence a call to action. DM
Janet Heard is involved in the M20 initiative. She writes in her personal capacity.