2027: YIAGA AFRICA URGES INEC TO TACKLE AI MISINFORMATION

Yiaga Africa has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen measures against artificial intelligence-generated misinformation ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.

The organisation warned that the growing use of AI tools to create fake videos, manipulated images, fabricated audio recordings and misleading political content could undermine public trust in the electoral process.

With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the elections, Yiaga Africa said the spread of false information could influence voters, damage the reputations of candidates and create unnecessary tension among political supporters.

The organisation urged INEC to develop a comprehensive strategy for identifying and responding to AI-generated disinformation, particularly content designed to mislead voters about candidates, electoral procedures and election results.

It also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the electoral commission, security agencies, social media platforms, technology companies and civil society organisations.

According to the organisation, public education should form an important part of the response, as voters need the skills to identify manipulated content and verify information before sharing it.

Yiaga Africa also stressed that efforts to address misinformation must respect freedom of expression and avoid becoming a tool for suppressing legitimate political criticism.

The warning highlights the growing challenges facing electoral institutions as artificial intelligence makes it easier to produce convincing fake content and distribute it rapidly through digital platforms.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, the organisation believes that protecting the integrity of information available to voters will be essential to ensuring credible, transparent and peaceful polls.