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Real411 empowers citizens to take action against digital disinformation by providing an accessible platform to report, track, and address harmful online content.

About the Digital Complaints Committee

The DCC will comprise the Secretariat, various Sub-committees; the Appeals Committee and the Advisory Board with the Secretariat to be run by Media Monitoring Africa. The functions of the Secretariat will include the following:

Oversight of the complaints process and the work of the DCC;
Facilitating any communications or requests for information between the DCC and the complainant or the respondent;
Giving effect to the determinations made by the DCC;
Ensuring that the outcomes of complaints are made publicly available;
Undertaking the administrative tasks necessary for the proper functioning of the DCC;
Performing any other functions that may be necessary to ensure that the DCC can perform its tasks and achieve the desired objectives.

Each Sub-committee will comprise of three persons: one with legal expertise; one with media expertise; and one with digital expertise.

The Functions of the Sub-Committees Will Include the Following:

Review any complaint that is forwarded to that Sub-committee and assess whether the complaint falls within the scope being considered by the DCC.

Make a decision of the appropriate action to be taken in response to the complaint.

Provide reasons for the decision.

The Appeals Process

The Appeal Commission shall comprise one or more retired judges or other senior professionals with relevant experience. The functions of the Appeal Committee shall include the following:

Consider the outcome of any complaint in which the complainant or respondent feels aggrieved by the determination made by the Sub-committee;
Make a determination on any complaint in which the members of the relevant Sub-committee were not able to reach consensus;
Make a determination on any complaint referred to it by the Secretariat in light of the complexity or public interest in the outcome of the complaint;
Prepare an opinion on any relevant matter, as may be requested by the Secretariat.

The Advisory Board shall comprise various stakeholders with relevant expertise from different sectors, including the state, industry, civil society, the media and academia.

The Functions of the Advisory Board Will Include the Following:

Participate in meetings regarding the work and functions of the DCC;

Provide strategic guidance to the DCC, as may be requested.

The DCC does not have any legally binding powers, and as such the work undertaken in terms of this Code of Conduct is done in a voluntary and participatory manner that seeks conciliatory resolutions to the complaints received.

About Moxii Africa

Moxii Africa was established in 1993 in Johannesburg, South Africa and, since then, has evolved from a pure monitoring-based project to an innovative organisation which implements successful media strategies for change. Moxii Africa uses technology, social media and data tools to make their work more efficient and effective.

Moxii Africa is supporting this initiative in line with its mandate and organisational objectives, which includes, promoting media freedom, ensuring free and fair elections and overall contributing to a functional democracy. Moxii Africa is also contributing because of and through its expertise and work on mis- and disinformation, and expertise and experience in developing and building digital literacy campaigns such as PAdRe, Open and Disclose and KnowNews.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct opts to establish a voluntary, civil society led initiative to address harmful online content. It will establish the framework for the online complaints portal, Real411 which members of the public can submit relevant complaints to the Digital Complaints Committee (DCC).

The Code of Conduct will establish the DCC, and set out the relevant powers and functions. It will provide clarity on the procedures to be followed and identify the applicable legal frameworks by encouraging public engagement in addressing legal frameworks.

The Code of Conduct applies to the following digital offences committed on one or more online platforms:

Hate Speech

Incitement to Violence

Mis- or Disinformation

Harassment

This Code of Conduct provides guidance on striking the appropriate balance between competing rights and interests by taking into consideration all relevant factors, including the importance of the right to freedom of expression, artistic creativity, satire, journalistic endeavours and the public interest. Nothing in the work undertaken in terms of this Code of Conduct is intended to supplant the role of the courts of law.

The Secretariat will seek to enter into agreements of cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including online platforms and regulators, of the media to give effect to this Code of Conduct in an expeditious and effective manner. All such agreements of cooperation will be done in an open and transparent manner.

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