Editors Conference: AI misinformation threatens democracy, media credibility — Idris

By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU — The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has warned that the use of Artificial Intelligence, AI, to create and circulate fake photographs, videos, audio recordings and documents poses a serious challenge to democracy and public trust.

Idris, who spoke through the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Ali M. Ali, at the 22nd Annual All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu on Thursday, said the danger extended beyond citizens believing false information to the possibility of losing trust in genuine information.

The two-day conference, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors, is themed, “The Ballot, The Media, and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Misinformation Before, During, and After Elections.” The conference is taking place in Enugu on September 24 and 25.

Idris said with the 2027 general elections approaching, the quality of information available to voters would become increasingly important, stressing that democracy depended on citizens having access to credible information with which to make informed decisions.

According to him, editors occupy a critical position in shaping public discourse because they determine what enters the public conversation, the issues that receive attention and how such issues are framed.

He said AI had made it possible to create convincing photographs, videos, audio recordings and documents that could appear genuine when they were not.

“Artificial intelligence has made it possible to create convincing photographs, videos, audio recordings and documents that may appear genuine when they are not.

“A false statement can be produced in the voice of a public official. A fabricated video can be circulated within minutes. An old photograph can be presented as a current event,” he said.

The minister urged media organisations to make verification a permanent part of newsroom culture rather than an exercise carried out only after publication.

He listed questions journalists should ask before publishing information, including who made the claim, what evidence supports it, when a photograph was taken, whether a video was original and whether its source had been independently verified.

He also urged journalists to establish whether a headline was supported by the story and distinguish between facts, allegations and opinions.

Idris said the media should subject government performance to the same rigorous scrutiny applied to other public institutions.

He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, had undertaken major economic reforms, including the removal of petroleum subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.

He added that the government had reported improvements in revenue mobilisation, increased resources available to states and local governments, stronger investor confidence and increased investments across various sectors.

On infrastructure, Idris said the Federal Government had reported that more than 2,700 kilometres of highways and major roads were under construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation as of May 2024.

He also cited interventions in education and human capital development, including expanded access to higher education financing through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, as well as programmes targeting youths, small businesses, digital skills and entrepreneurship.

The minister, however, said the media should neither exaggerate government achievements nor ignore them, but should examine, verify and report both progress and shortcomings.

“A responsible press should neither exaggerate achievements nor ignore them. It should examine them, verify them, ask the difficult questions, and allow citizens to understand both the progress and the shortcomings. This is how public trust is built,” he said.

On electoral reforms, Idris noted that President Tinubu signed amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act into law in February 2026. The State House confirmed the signing on February 19.

He said the changes to the electoral framework deserved careful public examination irrespective of political affiliation, urging journalists to explain what had changed, what remained the same and the implications for political parties and the electoral process.

Idris further cautioned journalists against becoming participants in political contests, urging them to focus on establishing facts, providing context and allowing citizens to make their own judgments.

“The job of a professional journalist is not to amplify every claim simply because it is politically attractive. The job is to establish what is true, provide context, and allow citizens to make their own judgments,” he said.

He urged editors and journalists to ensure that technology did not become a tool for deceiving voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The ballot belongs to the people. The responsibility of the media is to help ensure that information surrounding that ballot is worthy of a democracy,” he said.

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