Towards Responsible Information Sharing in South Sudan
Partner: Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
Timeline: 1 August 2022 -1 December 2024
The Towards Responsible Information Sharing in South Sudan initiative, implemented by DefyHate Now with support from CIPESA, aimed to combat hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation while promoting responsible information sharing.
Running from June to November 2024, the project combined media monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and targeted events to address the challenges of harmful online and offline narratives in South Sudan. Key activities included monitoring tech platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and X to identify and report hate speech and disinformation, culminating in a detailed report for stakeholders.
The initiative also hosted a two-day symposium under the theme “Investing in the Power of Youth for Countering and Addressing Hate Speech,” bringing together 68 participants to discuss the impact of hate speech and explore strategies grounded in UN frameworks. Additionally, a disinformation awareness campaign featured four cartoon publications in the No.
1 Citizen Daily Newspaper (reaching 5,233 readers), 100 posters in high-traffic locations in Juba, social media outreach to 38,738 audiences, and four radio talk shows to amplify campaign messages. Through these activities, the initiative fostered a more informed and resilient society equipped to counter misinformation and hate speech effectively.