EU flags data abuse, cyberbullying, major digital gaps for Sept. 1 polls

Nov 19, 2025 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has raised serious concerns about the conduct of the September 1 General and Regional Elections, regarding the use of citizens’ personal data in political campaigning and the rise of cyberbullying targeting journalists, social media influencers, and other public figures.

According to the mission, these issues pose significant risks to digital security, freedom of expression, and voter protection.

In its recently published final report, the EU reported that the digital information environment during the election was active but highly antagonistic, often dominated by manipulative content that left little room for respectful, diverse political debate. Despite this, the mission noted that some digital media outlets and influencers, including those from Indigenous communities, made constructive efforts to promote inclusive, nonpartisan discussions on key social issues, party platforms, and candidates, helping voters make more informed decisions.

However, the EU expressed concern about uneven access to digital information across the country. In several regions, limited or non-existent internet connectivity hindered citizens’ ability to exercise fundamental rights such as access to information and freedom of expression. The mission observed that many rural communities lacked TV, radio, and mobile phone coverage altogether. “In such cases, the government-installed free Wi-Fi or a Starlink terminal, was the sole source of internet available, but only in a small area around the community centres. In the electoral context, this limited access to the news and reduced the effectiveness of GECOM’s digital voter information efforts for the citizens residing in those areas,” the EU stated.

Additionally, the EU flagged Cybercrime Act not being evenly implemented during the elections season.  The mission stated that it observed that no action was taken against clear cases of cyberbullying, including online harassment of journalists, influencers, and opposition politicians.

The mission pointed out that, between 2024 and early 2025, several digital content creators and ordinary citizens were arrested and charged for online posts that criticized the President or supported public protests. According to the EU, this had a chilling effect on pre-election discussions, particularly on sensitive issues like corruption and policing.

As such, the EU emphasized that all public figures, regardless of political affiliation, should receive equal protection and that online content restrictions must remain within international human rights norms.  The report urges alignment of the Cybercrime Act with international standards to protect political expression online. Civil society groups have long warned that the Act can be used to silence critics, journalists, and activists.

The EU also raised serious concerns about the misuse of personal data during the election period. Because the country’s data protection laws have not yet been fully implemented, the mission noted that politically motivated doxing took place without any consequences. It also found indications that government-held personal information, especially data from cash grant recipients, may have been used for political advantage.

According to the EU, the 2023 data protection act is largely in line with international standards, setting out how State agencies and private entities must handle personal information and requiring individuals’ consent for its use. The act also establishes a data protection office headed by a commissioner appointed by the president. However, the EU reported that there has been no public discussion about the selection of this commissioner, and no progress toward making the office operational.

The report documented several incidents involving the unlawful publication of personal information. “Several opposition leaning influencers and politicians informed about unlawful publication of their and their family members’ personal data on social media. Verified images also showed PPP/C activists profiling people visible in photos from WIN events. Such unwarranted publicity was intimidating, yet no action against the perpetrators was taken by the police. Further, the PPP/C call centre used mobile phone numbers of citizens who received cash grants to solicit votes,” the EU EOM stated.

Given these concerns, the mission called for the full implementation of the data protection act, including the establishment of the data protection office, to ensure that voters’ personal information is protected from misuse.

The issue of potential data misuse resurfaced in August when Vice President and PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo acknowledged that his party obtained citizens’ phone numbers from “various sources” to contact voters ahead of the elections.

Citizens reported being contacted by agents of the PPP during the campaign season. Some had questioned how the party accessed their phone number and even their names and it had been suggested that the ruling party used information gathered by the government during the $100,000 cash grant process.

When pressed on concerns about government data privacy, Jagdeo insisted that data remain protected under the newly passed legislation. He argued that voter outreach calls are standard political practice worldwide and stressed that the PPP/C engages voters respectfully, unlike other parties, which he claimed rely on transactional approaches. Jagdeo maintained that the PPP/C’s extensive network of activists is focused on direct engagement and listening to citizens.

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• cyberbullying, digital inequities, Elections, EU Mission, misuse, personal data, Robert Biedroń

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