The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has expressed concerns about the dangers posed by the abuse of social media among bloggers and other platforms in the country, as evidenced by the rampant cases of fake news, deepfakes, and disinformation.
He called for the responsible use of social media and artificial intelligence to foster the nation’s development.
Peters spoke at a one-day symposium jointly organized by NOUN, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), under the auspices of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) and the Department of Mass Communication.
He noted that the symposium, themed “Blogging, Artificial Intelligence, and the Credibility of Social Media Content: A Hybrid Resolution Approach,” was organized to initiate a conversation on effectively managing information in the age of evolving technologies.
He urged respective government agencies to develop policies, rules, and regulations on managing public information within an era characterized by a digital information flow.
The VC also advised Nigerians, including journalists, to embrace digital and mass literacy to effectively fact-check information disseminated through social media platforms.
He stated, “We are conducting a one-day symposium on digital and mass literacy information. Today’s symposium is essential for discussing how we can manage information in the age of technology, particularly regarding deepfakes, which are becoming increasingly rampant among blogs and various social media platforms.
ALSO READ:Â Court discharges, acquits Lagos monarch of rights violation charges
“We must try to evolve policies, rules, and regulations on how we manage public information in this era that we now find ourselves in,” he said.
While acknowledging that regulating social media is challenging, Peters asserted that technology could be harnessed to address the situation.
“In technology, just like in any broadcast, there is usually a lag between the creator producing content and its release to the public. That time lag is where we need to focus our efforts. Within that interspace, there must be mechanisms—like what the Americans now call fact-checking—to verify the information being broadcast before it reaches the public.
“I don’t know how we can achieve this, but I believe it is a possible solution for managing information that is false or misrepresents the facts.
“I’m hopeful that technology can facilitate this. Some people are already doing it on WhatsApp. When you send something, there is an administrator who reviews the information before it is disseminated to the public. If it is deemed harmful, they can modify or stop it. For me, that is one way to provide a solution to the spread of fake news,” he stated.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who was represented at the event, noted that the proceedings would pave the way for greater understanding, collaboration, and progress in the quest for a more informed, responsible, and media-literate society.
He added that the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) was established as an institution of excellence of global standards, aimed at driving programs and courses that will equip Nigerians, Africans, and the world to understand the ever-changing dynamics of digital communication and how to navigate it safely.
He expressed optimism that these efforts would lead to a safer media and digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
and then