CITAD Launches PAWSOM-Monitor for Election Rights Tracking

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has introduced a digital monitoring platform named PAWSOM-Monitor, aimed at tracking privacy violations, website disruptions, and restrictions on social media platforms during elections. Y.Z.

Yau, the executive director of CITAD, announced this initiative at a press briefing, indicating that it will be piloted during the Osun state governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2023, as part of the preparations for the 2027 general elections. The PAWSOM-Monitor platform is designed to assess whether political parties and candidates have equal access to websites and social media during election campaigns.

It employs AI-trained agents to analyze the operational status of submitted websites and social media handles, determining if a political party's website is accessible or disrupted. Additionally, it will monitor social media accounts on platforms like X and Meta for any suspensions or restrictions.

The platform will also address unsolicited campaign messages, focusing on instances where individuals receive political communications without consent regarding their personal information.