African Union: African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted Resolution on developing Guidelines to assist States monitor technology companies in respect of their duty to maintain information integrity through independent fact checking

On 11 March 2025, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) adopted Resolution ACHPR/Res.630 (LXXXII) 2025 on the development of guidelines to assist states in monitoring technology companies. The resolution requires the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa to develop these guidelines in collaboration with stakeholders such as civil society, regulatory bodies, and technology companies. The aim is to enable States to effectively monitor platforms' performance in advancing online information integrity, including the role of independent fact-checking in the African context. The ACHPR noted concerns about technology companies' regression on information integrity, the need for adequate coverage of African languages and human resources in content moderation, concerns about “community notes” as a substitute for independent fact-checking, and the “weaponisation” of a specific platform/AI service. It also called on digital companies operating in Africa to adopt transparent human rights impact assessments as part of due diligence, particularly in cases of elections, health crises, and potential violent conflict, and highlighted the importance of comprehensive African access to data for assessing systemic risks to information integrity.