Lai Mohammed: AI-Generated Fake News Could Undermine Democracy, Public Trust
Ayodeji Ake Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence(AI) to generate fake news, deepfakes and fabricated audio recordings could
Former Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has cautioned that the increasing utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) for generating fake news, deepfakes, and fabricated audio recordings could undermine democracy, public trust, and national security. He emphasized during his lecture at Caleb University in Lagos that the sophistication of disinformation has made it easier to manipulate public opinion, distort political debates, and spread false narratives that can incite violence and social unrest.
Mohammed highlighted how AI has transformed the information landscape, enabling the creation of convincing fake images, videos, voices, and personas at relatively low costs. He expressed concern that AI may foster an environment where people lose faith in any information. The emergence of deepfakes could make it challenging to verify digital evidence, especially during elections and politically sensitive times, leading to a phenomenon known as the 'liar's dividend,' where individuals may dismiss genuine evidence as fabricated.
Mohammed recalled the National Campaign Against Fake News and Misinformation launched by the federal government in July 2018, following a session focused on fake news and hate speech in July 2017. He cited examples, such as a false report alleging he held $1.2 billion in his bank account that caused tension in his family, and incidents of mob violence in India and Ogun State sparked by false WhatsApp messages and TikTok content.
He urged governments not to suppress legitimate criticism while fighting misinformation, stating that a democratic government should provide accurate, timely, and verifiable information. Mohammed stressed the importance of professional journalism and urged universities to make media and information literacy a core part of education, advocating for stronger technological safeguards, responsible AI deployment, public education, and protection of freedom of expression.
He urged Nigerians to take personal responsibility for the information they share, emphasizing the need to verify content before dissemination.
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