2027: Experts outline ways to detect AI-manipulated content

Detailed summary

Media experts have outlined ways for journalists to detect AI-manipulated content and misinformation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Read More:…

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, journalists have been urged to strengthen their verification processes as part of efforts to combat artificial intelligence-manipulated content and misinformation.

Media stakeholders also urged journalists and newsrooms to scrutinise suspicious digital content and establish clear newsroom policies on the use of AI to tackle the growing threat of misinformation.

They made the call on Wednesday during a PUNCH Media Foundation webinar on artificial intelligence, misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Speaking during the webinar, the Founder of FactsMatterNG, Hannah Ajakaiye, said journalists must pay close attention to the timing, origin and quality of information, particularly audio recordings, videos and images circulated shortly before elections.

Offering insights into frontline verification, synthetic content and information integrity, Ajakaiye said the timing of a suspicious publication could provide an important clue to its credibility.

She said, “The timing of the content is critical. If an election is imminent and on the eve of the election, someone pushes out an audio clip, video, or manipulated image, the timing is very important, and that should raise red flags.

“You must be sure of the origin. You cannot simply rely on something forwarded on WhatsApp; you have to trace it to its primary source.”

Ajakaiye also urged journalists to contact relevant institutions directly to authenticate claims rather than rushing to publish unverified material in a bid to break the news.

She said, “Before pushing content out in a rush to break the news, journalists must reach out to the relevant institutions to verify. In this context, you reach out directly to INEC. In my organization, there have been times when we had to step down a story to verify it first, rather than risking our reputation.”

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