Around the world, the concern about fake news becomes more and more prevalent all the time, and Africa is not an exception. Recently, both disinformation and misinformation have impacted the continent in many ways, including public health, social stability and democracy.
Fake news that goes with elections, as well as the spread of fake news during the pandemic, are two examples of how misinformation has exacerbated confusion and undermined trust in relevant institutions.
For Africa specifically, the diverse collection of races, languages, and cultures, coupled with the rapidly expanding use of the internet, including social media, has turned fighting fake news in Africa into a top priority to protect the country’s democracy and its citizens.
The rise of fake news in Africa can be linked to a number of factors. Among them are therise in digitization, socio-political influences, and the limits to the regulatory infrastructurepresent on the continent. A recent Reuters Institute study reports that 60 percent of Africancitizens encounter fake news on social media every single day, whether it’s on WhatsApp,Facebook or X.
One example involves the degree to which false information was spread during the Ebolavirus of 2014, which caused a massive mistrust of medical professionals and a lengthening of the crisis. The fake news Africa deals with also includes the more recent COVID-19pandemic and was used to spread misinformation about vaccines and the origins of the virus, which caused heightened public fear and hesitation to seek any type of medical intervention.
The role of social media websites in fake news in Africa is huge because it’s a tool for communication, but also a major means for spreading misinformation. In African countries where access to the internet has surged, citizens are not digitally literate, making it difficult for them to identify accurate news versus fake news. Combining elevated social media usage and low digital literacy creates an information threat that is spread throughout Africa.
As a response to recognizing the threat of fake news in Africa, many governments have taken action to combat it. That includes detailed policies and legislation that counters and proliferation of false information.
Morocco implemented a strategy that required media outlets to verify all information pertaining to COVID-19.
In Tunisia, the 2018 Anti-Cybercrime Law created strict penalties for individuals intentionally spreading fake news on a social media website. Fake news in South Africa is also a concern. In response, the country created the Real 411 platform, a safe place for citizens to report fake news, with fines and imprisonment as potential consequences.
NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, have also contributed to mitigating the fake news Africa deals with. For example, Africa Check, originating in South Africa, is an indepen dentfact checking entity that works to verify news sources across the continent by working with governments, media outlets and community organizations.
Media Monitoring Africa is another example of an NGO. This organization creates public awareness campaigns that provide education and resources to citizens so they understand how to identify and combat fakes on social media.
The Association of Moroccan Media Professionals (AMMP) in Morocco is another example that demands transparency on news sites and works to fact check information shared.
Civil society plays a crucial role in combating fake news in Africa, doing so by cultivating local involvement and mobilizing grassroots programs that address the issue. These organizations typically work directly with the general public, working to offer accurate news and encourage citizens to take control of their digital literacy.
Such entities are positioned to understand the challenges and needs of their specific community, making them a valuable way to counter the fake news Africa is dealing with in today’s modern and digital world.
In Tunisia, the Tunisian League of Human Rights hosts events that provide education to citizens regarding their responsibilities and rights when it comes to information sharing online.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) collaborates with African journalists to share ethical reporting and work to combat fake news that targets rural and underserved regions.
One of the best ways to fight fake news in Africa is to educate its citizens and that includes the specific fake news South Africa is dealing with, as well as other countries, Morocco, Tunisia and Uganda among them. Giving citizens the skills they need to assess information gives all African countries the capability to recognize and resist fake news. This is particularly critical for youth living in Africa, as they are prevalent and prolific users of the various social media sites.
There have been a variety of initiatives introduced in Africa that promote digital literacy, for young and old alike.
The African Union’s Digital Literacy Program provides educational resources for students that teach them to properly evaluate information they encounter online and how to identify when something is false or fake. In South Africa, the National Curriculum Framework contains a variety of effective components aimed at digital literacy and critical thinking skills that students can use to help them find and recognize reputable news sources.
In Morocco, the Ministry of Education has integrated the existing curriculum with new digital literacy aspects, aiming to teach kids to find reputable news sites and combat fake news.
Misinformation is a rapidly evolving issue that continuously becomes more sophisticated and new technological solutions are emerging as a result. These programs have specialized tools that have been created specifically to detect and counter fake news with advanced technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and data analysis.
AI has been especially useful a sit can be used to monitor narratives on social media, look for and flag trends, and stop fake news from spreading. Using data driven platforms is another method that uses automated fact checking software that scans news stories in real time and flags trends, patterns and false information. It can also verify and fact check.
Because such platforms are capable of scanning and analyzing huge amounts of data, they are increasingly being used to monitor social media and create early warning systems that governments can use to combat fake news in Africa.
While these technological advances are certainly promising, they also have challenges.
Algorithms sometimes make mistakes and there is the need for constant updates and refining to ensure that the tools are doing their job effectively. However, technology continues to be a highly valuable piece of the puzzle when fighting fake news around the world.
One of the most exciting solutions for disinformation monitoring and narratives detection is Osavul. The program was especially designed to monitor and analyze social media narratives, using real time tools to find insight into the latest misinformation trends.
Capabilities that Osavul offers include detecting fake news and false information, tracking the spread, and finding the origins of the disinformation. It can do so with many languages, making it highly useful in Africa, where there is a diverse collection of languages spoken across the countries.
Osavul also encourages stakeholder collaboration, which includes NGOs, governments and civil society groups. Such a centralized tool makes it easy to coordinate efforts and respond effectively to the spread of disinformation in Africa. Using data from a variety of sources enhances these efforts.
The introduction of Osavul and its software is a massive advancement in the battle against fake news in Africa, and around the world.
Battling fake news in Africa requires a multi-pronged approach that combines the efforts of the governments in the many countries across the continent, associated NGOs, and engagement of civil society organizations, education and technological innovations. That could be anything from legal frameworks, grassroots movements, and programs that educate the public about digital and media literacy, and AI efforts. Each plays a critical role in addressing the challenges that arise due to misinformation.
Digital access will continue to grow across Africa, which means this will be an ongoing problem that should be prioritized. The success of initiatives and policies depends on all stakeholders doing their part to uphold the truth and stop the spread of fake news in Africa and beyond.
