Real journalists matter in an AI world
An algorithm can decide what you see, but it doesn’t report the news. Nunatsiaq News, an award-winning newspaper in Nunavut, recently reported that a so-called “news” website was posting AI-generated […]
Real journalists have always been vital in an AI-driven world. Nunatsiaq News, a respected newspaper in Nunavut, has reported on a fake news website that was posting AI-generated articles about the region by stealing actual news stories from real journalists. These articles were falsely attributed to a fake journalist named Leah Qammaniq, complete with a fabricated photo and bio.
Governor General Louise Arbour had previously warned about the dangers of fake news in her installation speech, emphasizing the importance of protecting the public space where national debates occur. The government of Canada has acknowledged the issue and even issued a discussion paper on enhancing trust in AI through transparency. However, it has not taken any action against the theft of news content by AI companies.
According to a survey by News Media Canada, 78% of Canadians are concerned about fake news and disinformation, highlighting the growing value of professional, credible journalism. To safeguard against misinformation and preserve Canadian sovereignty, identity, and unity, there are several measures that can be implemented. These include forbidding text and data-mining exceptions, using federal procurement power to stop companies from stealing creator content, aligning with the U.K. approach to control news content in AI answers, conducting a market study on Google's AI/search crawler, and introducing legislation to combat "bad bots."
These steps can help ensure the continued importance of trusted, verified journalism in a healthy democracy.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
