Fake news detection: Antic gives community managers the tools they need

A four-day capacity building seminar to this effect organized by ANTIC has convened close to 50 participants drawn from government ministries and parastatals who are being drilled on digital communication techniques that would allow them to anticipate and counteract the effects of "fake news," detect false information, images, and videos created by malicious individuals for propaganda campaigns on social media.

Speaking at the seminar today, ANTIC’s Director General Prof. Ebot Ebot Enaw entreated participants to use the #digitalskills being acquired to guarantee the effective presence of government institutions online, provide insights on government actions as well as real-time disclaimers to false information in a bid to ensure better visibility and effectiveness of public policies.

The training workshop is taking place at a time when Fake news, or disinformation, which is a deliberate attempt to mislead people, often with sensational, false, or misleading information has become a national concern as it undermines trust in the State and its institutions, misleads public opinion, threatens public order and national security.

In 2023 alone, #ANTIC detected and closed down 843 fake accounts thanks to productive collaboration with social media platforms. The fake accounts which were used by malicious individuals to propagate #fakenews and carry out online scams were created by usurping the identities of high-profile government officials.