Media
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has urged Nigerian editors to strengthen verification and fact-checking to protect democracy from the growing threat of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated disinformation.
Achebe made the call in his opening speech as Chairman of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) in Enugu on Thursday.
Realnews Magazine reports that the theme of the conference is: “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”
Its sub-theme is: “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Disinformation Before, During and After Elections.”
Achebe said the emergence of AI-generated falsehoods had created a new challenge for journalism, as fabricated voices, videos and images could increasingly appear authentic.
He said a voice could be generated to sound like a governor saying something the governor never said, while videos could depict political candidates in places they had never visited.
“An image can depict violence that never occurred, timed precisely to inflame passions on the eve of an election,” he said.
The monarch said the threat was already present in Nigeria’s information environment, including social media and WhatsApp groups.
He noted that Nigeria’s diversity, political engagement and strong community and family networks, which had contributed to its resilience, could also facilitate the rapid spread of false information.
“The same social fabric that has made us resilient can now become the very medium through which falsehood spreads fastest, precisely because we trust the neighbour, the town union, the family WhatsApp group, more than we trust a stranger,” he said.
Achebe identified verification, literacy and courage as three key responsibilities for editors and journalists in confronting disinformation.
He urged editors to prioritise verification before speed, saying being first with a false story amounted to a betrayal of public trust, even when done unintentionally.
He advised journalists to question information that appeared “too perfectly damning” or was conveniently timed for immediate circulation before it was verified.
The monarch also urged editors to understand the tools and techniques used to produce disinformation, including synthetic voices, fabricated images and coordinated networks of social media accounts.
He said journalists should also help citizens develop the ability to critically assess information without becoming so sceptical that they trusted nothing.
“We must note that a citizenry that believes everything is as dangerous as one that believes nothing,” he said.
On courage, Achebe challenged journalists to debunk falsehoods regardless of the political interests they served.
He said journalistic integrity required correcting misinformation whether it benefited a journalist’s preferred political camp or its opponents.
“True journalistic integrity in this era will require you to correct falsehoods regardless of who benefits from them, before, during, and yes, after elections,” he said.
Achebe acknowledged the difficult operating environment for Nigerian journalists, including economic challenges, political intimidation and the speed of information dissemination.
He, however, expressed confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian media to confront emerging challenges.
“I say them because I believe in you,” he said.
“I believe that the same profession that exposed colonial injustice, that gave us independence, that chronicled our darkest hours and our proudest triumphs, still carries within it the capacity to rise to this new and unusual challenge.”
The monarch said democracy should not be regarded as a permanent structure that could sustain itself without protection.
He likened democracy to a fire that had to be continually tended and protected to remain alive.
“Democracy is not a monument we erect and then walk away from. It is more like a fire lit to keep the house warm.
“It must be tended, fed, protected from wind and rain, or it dies quietly in the night while everyone believes it still burns,” he said.
Achebe also drew parallels between traditional Igbo governance and democratic principles, noting that the Obi traditionally ruled through consultation, dialogue and the wisdom of elders and the people.
He said the ballot represented a modern expression of the principle that legitimate power derived from the consent and informed judgment of the people.
“The ballot is the citizen’s voice. The media is the mirror by which that citizen sees the world clearly enough to know what to say with that voice,” he said.
He warned that when the media mirror was distorted, citizens could make electoral decisions based on falsehoods.
“A democracy built on illusion is not genuine democracy but drama. It becomes a theatre,” he said.
Achebe urged editors to use the conference to develop practical responses to the erosion of truth in public life.
“Let this conference, then, not just speeches and communiqués, but a genuine council of war against the erosion of truth in our public life,” he said.
He charged the editors to remain committed to democracy and the nation despite political pressures and institutional challenges.
“In the face of challenges, politicking, electioneering and partisanship, you must stand upright for democracy and the nation.
“Even if politicians, electoral body, institutions, and other things fail, you must be the ultimate last man standing in the task of defending democracy,” he said.
Achebe also commended members of the Fourth Estate for their sacrifices and contributions to the country’s development.
He prayed for God’s protection, good health and safe return for the editors and other participants after the conference.
(NAN)
Tags: AI Disinformation Guild of Editors Obi of Onitsha