BY VICTOR BUORO – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has condemned the abuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in creating and disseminating deepfake videos that depict public officials in embarrassing situations.Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio manipulated or generated using AI, often to create convincing fakes. The users deploy these materials for various purposes, including entertainment, research, and potentially malicious activities like misinformation or impersonation.
Speaking when the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya, visited him in Abuja, the Minister noted that AI has the potential of being used for both positive and negative purposes.
Idris, who acknowledged that AI can be used for both positive and negative purposes, said, “We see how AI can be used both positively and negatively. You could be sitting right here, and someone could superimpose another person’s head onto your body, completely misrepresenting you.
“Every day, we see that the President will say something and somebody will twist it and say a different thing; the minister will say something and somebody will twist it and say another thing”
According to the Minister said deepfake videos have damaged countless reputations and traumatized families by falsely portraying individuals in scandalous situations.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is collaborating with UNESCO to clean up the social media space while safeguarding freedom of expression.
The Minister said, “As a government, we are looking at that seriously, especially how to sanitize the social media space without gagging the freedom of expression.
“Fortunately for us, the entire world is coming together to see how this menace can be fought. That’s why UNESCO is taking the lead.”
Idris further explained that UNESCO has already gathered inputs from over 100 countries, with more than 10,000 submissions, while also developing a comprehensive guide for digital content creators to help uphold the integrity of the online space.
Importantly, the Minister urged the NUJ and media practitioners nationwide to support the fight against fake news and misinformation, while also stressing the need to safeguard the credibility of the journalism profession.
He said; “For us at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, we take the issue of misinformation and fake news very seriously and we want to call on you to help us and collaborate with us towards eradicating quacks within this profession and not only that but encouraging citizen journalists and the general public to write and publish only what they know is correct.”
The Information Minister used the opportunity to inform the NUJ about the establishment of a Category 2 Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, approved for Nigeria by UNESCO.
He said the Institute, the first of its kind in the world, would equip journalists, students, and the general public with the skills to critically assess and responsibly engage with information in the digital space, combat misinformation and fake news, and promote professionalism.
This is as the Minister congratulated the NUJ on its 70th anniversary of dedicated service to the nation and reaffirmed the Tinubu Administration’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom as a cornerstone for the growth and sustainability of democracy in Nigeria.
In his remarks earlier, the NUJ President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, lauded President Tinubu for appointing a media professional as the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
He pledged that the Union is ready to partner with the Ministry in showcasing the administration’s laudable achievements since its inception on May 29, 2023.
The NUJ President also briefed the Minister on activities planned for the Union’s 70th Anniversary Celebration, in which the Minister will be Chief Host.
Of recent, there have serious concerns that as images, videos, or audio edited or generated using Artificial Intelligence, AI-based tools or AV editing software, deepfakes have become a powerful and evolving technology with the potential for both positive and negative impacts.
While they can be used for entertainment and research, their potential to spread misinformation and cause harm raises significant concerns that need to be addressed.
