Information Protection Center started operating at the Central Election Commission (CEC). The Center monitors the media that aims to differentiate what type of fake news or disinformation is being spread on electoral processes.

Adam Schmidt Director, Democracy, Governance and Social Development at USAID Georgia, and Keti Maisuradze, Chief of Party, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) got introduced with the performance of information protection center. Tamar Zhvania, the CEC Chairperson together with Giorgi Sharabidze, Deputy Chairperson hosted the USAID and IFES representatives. The importance of the center was discussed at the meeting and in the election period, when there is an increased interest in electoral processes, it is necessary to identify and analyze disseminated fake information.

The information protection center was opened with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems through the USAID.

“Youth working in the center will observe and monitor all election-related information, be it disinformation, or fake, unspecified, and misinformation. By analyzing this data, all electoral stakeholders and first of all voters will be well-informed about the electoral processes”, – said Tamar Zhvania.

As Adam Schmidt Director, Democracy, Governance, and Social Development at USAID Georgia stated, information integrity should be protected since there are sources that disseminate disinformation. “I am impressed by the CEC’s leadership being very seriously focused on this important initiative. Again, we hope that this will help to inform new public relations and public information messaging and to encourage voters of Georgia to participate and ensure that they are receiving the right types of information.

The center launched its activities since October 1st and will conduct monitoring throughout the election period. The center will prepare the interim as well as conclusive analyzes and final report on monitoring findings.