Dear Friends, Wikimedia User Group Nigeria( WUGN) is exploring a partnership with a Nigerian technology company to develop an Election Monitoring and Information Integrity System. The proposed platform will leverage Wikipedia and Wikidata to help curb election-related misinformation, document verifiable electoral events, and track incidents of election-related violence in a neutral, transparent, and verifiable manner.
The initiative is conceived as a public-interest, non-partisan tool that strengthens access to reliable information during electoral processes, while aligning with Wikimedia’s core values of neutrality, verifiability, and free knowledge. As part of our ongoing engagement with the technology partner, we are seeking insights from Wikimedia affiliates, movement partners, and practitioners who have prior experience working on elections, civic technology, misinformation response, open data, or human rights documentation within the Wikimedia ecosystem and beyond. Specifically, we would welcome guidance on the following areas: 1. Ethical and Policy Considerations Risks related to editor safety, privacy, and data protection Neutrality, conflict sensitivity, and avoidance of political bias Compliance with Wikimedia policies, including BLP, NOR, and verifiability 2. Key Challenges and Risk Factors Misinformation, disinformation, and coordinated manipulation Data reliability, sourcing, and real-time verification constraints Legal, regulatory, and security challenges in electoral contexts 3. Lessons Learned and Success Stories Examples of similar initiatives within the Wikimedia movement or allied open knowledge communities What worked well, what failed, and why Strategies for community engagement and sustainability 4. Potential Funding and Partnership Opportunities Likely funding organizations, donors, or grant mechanisms Opportunities for collaboration with civil society, election observers, or research institutions 5. Impact and Measurement (Optional Input) Indicators for measuring impact on misinformation reduction and public trust Long-term value for Wikipedia, Wikidata, and the broader free knowledge ecosystem. The feedback from this consultation will inform our design choices, governance framework, and sustainability plan, ensuring the initiative is responsibly implemented and aligned with movement-wide best practices. Best regards, Amb. Olushola Olaniyan
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