Misuse of AI threatens democracy, media credibility, Minister Idris warns

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Thursday cautioned against the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create and circulate fake photographs, videos, audio recordings and documents, saying  that it poses a serious threat to democracy and public trust in Nigeria.

Idris, stated this in a  goodwill message delivered through the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, at the 22nd Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference in Enugu. He said the danger was not only that citizens could believe false information, but that they could eventually stop believing anything.

The minister spoke on the theme, “The Ballot, The Media, and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” and its sub-theme: “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Misinformation Before, During, and After Elections.”

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

He stated that editors occupied a critical position in shaping public discourse because they determine what enters the public conversation, the issues that receive attention and how such issues were framed.

He said: “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.”

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

He listed questions journalists should ask before publishing information, including: “Who said this? What is the evidence? When was this photograph taken? Is this video original? Has the source been independently verified? Is the headline supported by the story? Are we reporting a fact, an allegation, or an opinion?”

The minister also urged the media to subject government performance to the same rigorous scrutiny applied to other public institutions.