New AI Tool Fights Misinformation in African Nations Ahead of Elections
In a major development for combating misinformation across the African continent, FactCheckAfrica has launched MyAIFactChecker, the region's first artificial intelligence-powered fact-checking platform.
The platform is designed to address the growing issue of disinformation and fake news. The Global Director of BBYDI, Abideen Olasupo, highlighted the months of dedicated effort and research, supported by BECERA and the U.S. State Department, that went into creating the tool.
“This platform leverages cutting-edge AI technology, is user-friendly, and allows you to verify the authenticity of news, social media posts, and other online content quickly and conveniently,” Olasupo said.
The platform leverages advanced AI technology to enable users to verify the authenticity of news and other online content quickly and easily. It offers various functionalities, including a chatbot interface, feedback mechanisms, and voice search capability. Available in multiple languages such as English, Swahili, French, Arabic, and several local languages in Nigeria, the platform is a significant step toward addressing the spread of disinformation in African nations.
The launch of MyAIFactChecker comes at a crucial time, given the heightened prevalence of disinformation that can negatively impact elections, democracy, public health, and stability across African nations. The tool is expected to play a key role in the 24 African countries holding elections this year by helping to combat the spread of false information before, during, and after the electoral process.
In addition to launching MyAIFactChecker, FactCheckAfrica has also introduced a three-month AI Journalism Fellowship for journalists in West Africa. The fellowship aims to equip selected journalists with the knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations needed to navigate AI in journalism.
The team of nearly 40 individuals at FactCheck Africa has produced close to 1,700 fact-check reports, verified over 2,700 claims, and published 683 factsheets, guides, and blogs on disputed topics. They have also trained over 10,000 journalists and others in best practices for verification.
Their website has been visited by over 24 million people, while third-party media republications have led to over 100 million indirect content views. Additionally, in 2023, more than 18 million social media posts were flagged with their fact-checks.
