Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akintunde Rotimi (APC, Ekiti), said on Friday that Artificial Intelligence, AI, generated fake news and misinformation poses serious threat to freedom of the press and impacting negatively on the society.
He, however, spoke of the need to put in place, a regulatory framework for the operation of AI in the country, while saying the House has already set motion in place to pass a law that will ensure such regulations.
Speaking at a one-day event organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development in Abuja, Rotimi said the rise of AI-generated false news is not just a theoretical concern; it is a reality that has already begun to impact societies globally, especially the widespread use of deepfake technology and AI-generated content during political elections in Africa.
He said the event presents the opportunity to collectively reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the press and recommit to upholding the very tenets of free expression, public accountability and democratic governance, that are fundamental to the advancement of civil society.
He commended the courage of journalists to challenge the status quo, expose injustices and amplify marginalised voices which remains indispensable to the health of any democracy.
“Misinformation has been deliberately crafted, with AI tools creating fabricated videos and articles designed to manipulate public opinion. In some instances, these false narratives have resulted in violence, public unrest and fractured communities.
“The ability of AI to create convincing, but entirely fabricated news stories has increasingly contributed to public disinformation and erosion of trust in both media institutions and democratic processes.
“The growing potential for falsehood to outpace truth presents a dire challenge. Misinformation campaigns can now be automated and scaled at an unprecedented rate, reaching millions in a matter of seconds.
“This makes it harder to distinguish fact from fiction, particularly when such fabricated news is designed to appear legitimate. The consequences can be far-reaching – undermining public trust, inflaming social divisions and even destabilising governments”.
He added that “as we stand at the crossroads of human editorial judgment and algorithmic decision-making, we are faced with an important philosophical and practical dilemma: How do we preserve the integrity of journalism in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence?
Rotimi said “technology is a tool, not a conscience. In the face of rapid advancements, AI has proven capable of generating grammatically perfect articles, composing music and processing vast amounts of data with breathtaking speed. But what it cannot replicate is moral clarity, human empathy or the moral courage to challenge power; all of which lie at the core of the journalistic vocation.
“Artificial intelligence undeniably offers great promise, such as accelerating reporting, enhancing verification, and broadening the scope of dissemination. However, it also introduces risks: the amplification of biases inherent in flawed training data, the erosion of editorial independence through automated processes, and an alarming surge in misinformation that can outpace truth itself.
Speaking on the freedom of the press, he said “press freedom remains under constant threat. In the United States, Pew Research Center survey conducted between April 1 and April 7, 2024 released ahead of the World Press Freedom Day, explored Americans’ perceptions of press freedom and found that: 41 percent of adults expressed being extremely or very concerned about potential restrictions on press freedoms.
“In Nigeria, our circumstances are similarly fraught. Security agencies have, on occasion, engaged in actions that limit the freedom of the press, especially against print and digital platforms. Simultaneously, the unchecked rise of fake news, character defamation, cyberbullying, and politically motivated disinformation continues to erode trust in the media and fuels demands for more stringent digital regulation.
“As spokesman of the House, I have seen firsthand, how journalistic shortcuts seeking virality over veracity can do more harm than good. I have witnessed instances where serious accusations were made against the House of Representatives without any corroborating evidence or a genuine attempt to verify the facts.”
