FactCheck Africa launches AI initiative, journalism fellowship

FactCheck Africa, a media organisation, has unveiled MyAIFactChecker, ‘Africa’s first’ artificial intelligence-powered fact-checking platform, to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the continent.

FactCheck Africa, an initiative of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), a non-governmental organisation, was launched in 2022 as an independent, non-partisan and non-profit fact-checking platform for Africans.

Speaking at the unveiling of the AI-powered platform on Monday, Abideen Olasupo, the global director of BBYDI, said MyAIFactChecker is a product of months of dedicated effort and research, with support from BECERA and the US State Department.

Olasupo noted that the initiative would revolutionalise how Africans verify news and other online information.

“MyAIFactChecker is a demonstration of our organisation’s unwavering commitment to combating the scourge of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, thereby safeguarding the integrity of information,” Olasupo said.

“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 further disclosed that the innovative platform would provide users with a range of functionalities, including a chatbot interface, feedback mechanism, and voice search capability that is available in English, Swahili, French, Arabic, and other popular local languages in Nigeria.

According to him, the launch of MyAIFactChecker comes at a critical time, as the proliferation of disinformation and harmful content continues to pose significant threats to the integrity of elections, democracy, public health, and stability in African nations.

The BBDYI global director said the impact of fake news and disinformation on elections could not be waved.

He expressed optimism that his organisation’s newly introduced AI fact-checking initiative would help combat the spread of disinformation in African nations preparing to hold elections in 2024.

“It is worthy to note that 2024 is a year of elections in Africa as about 24 countries on the continent will hold elections this year. During electioneering periods, there is always a proliferation of fake news, and its attendant consequences could negatively impact the electoral process,” Olasupo said.

“With the launch of MyAIFactChecker, we are poised to curb the spread of misinformation and disinformation before, during, and after elections in these affected countries.

“We believe that access to accurate information is a fundamental right, and we are dedicated to empowering individuals with the tools to discern truth from falsehood in this digital age. We will continue to promote media literacy and critical thinking across Africa.”

In his address, Habeeb Adisa, head of programmes at FactCheck Africa, said the introduction of the innovative AI solution represents a significant advancement in the stride to fight the dissemination of fake news which continues to undermine societal trust and cause discord among people.

He said the organisation has launched a 3-month AI Journalism Fellowship for journalists in West Africa.

Adisa said the fellowship is a comprehensive training programme that will equip selected journalists with the knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations needed to navigate AI in journalism.

Also speaking, Nura Jimoh, the executive director of BBYDI, stated that the unveiling of MyAIFactChecker reinforced the commitment of the organisation to leverage tech solutions and digital tools in addressing societal challenges.