Reps spokesman says AI’s acceleration of fake news worrisome

The Federal Government has stressed the need for ethical guidelines to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in journalism practice in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this, yesterday, during the 2025 World Press Freedom Day journalism training themed “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media,” organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in Abuja.

Idris, who was represented by the Director, Press, Public Relations and Protocol in the ministry, Dr Suleman Haruna, noted the importance of press freedom for a thriving democracy, saying: “Freedom must come with responsibility. As we embrace AI’s potential to transform journalism, we must establish appropriate legal safeguards and ethical frameworks.”

The minister, who also stressed the importance of training journalists on effective use of AI tools, urging stakeholders to invest in that cause, said that the line between human and Al generated content was becoming increasingly blurry, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and bias in reporting.

Idris said that while the Federal Government is committed to supporting the responsible adoption of AI in journalism, it is also working towards developing a national policy framework for AI in media, one that promotes innovation while safeguarding press freedom and journalistic integrity.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committees on Media and Public Affairs, Akintunde Rotimi, expressed concern about how to preserve the integrity of journalism in a world increasingly dominated by AI. He said: “Let us not be deceived: technology is a tool, not a conscience.”

He added: “In the face of rapid advancement, AI has proven capable of generating grammatically perfect articles, composing music, and processing vast amounts of data with breathtaking speed.

“But what it cannot replicate is moral clarity, human empathy, or the moral courage to challenge power; all of which lie at the core of the journalistic vocation.”

According to him, AI undeniably offers great promise, such as accelerating reporting, enhancing verification, and broadening the scope of dissemination. He said the rise of AI-generated false news is not just a theoretical concern but a reality that has already begun to impact societies globally.

In his overview of the topic, “Fake News, Political Agenda, and the Erosion of Public Trust in the Media,” the lawmaker said fake news is not a mere buzzword but a tool designed to mislead and manipulate public biases.

He condemned the alarming rate at which fake news gets spread. However, media executives, who also spoke at the event, sought mechanisms against the use of the media outlets for the dissemination of fake news by politicians.

Also, the Executive Director of CJID, Akintunde Babatunde, said the World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder to governments of their commitment to uphold press freedom.