{
  "id": 12386910,
  "title": "INEC creates AI division to verify results, curb fake news",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/inec-creates-ai-division-to-verify-results-curb-fake-news-12386910",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-06T13:15:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/inec-creates-ai-division-to-verify-results-curb-fake-news/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) division as part of its Information and Communications Technology Department. This division aims to enhance INEC's capacity to identify anomalies and combat disinformation before the 2027 general elections. Prof. Joash Amupitan, the INEC Chairman, announced this during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja. The AI auditing tools, already integrated into the results verification process, will operate under a five-pillar AI governance framework with mandatory human oversight. INEC is also finalizing an AI governance framework policy, in collaboration with international technology leaders. The division will focus on detecting AI-driven anomalies and countering disinformation, particularly using generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfake videos to fabricate election-related documents. Amupitan warned about the danger of these fabricated contents deceiving voters and causing scepticism towards genuine information. To tackle this threat, INEC plans to combine technology with public education and collaborate with the media, urging journalists to use digital forensic tools for verifying election-related information before publication. The commission also emphasized that it has the statutory authority to declare election results, urging media organizations to refrain from publishing privately collated results or premature declarations. INEC is strengthening its election technology, upgrading its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, conducting nationwide audits and stress tests, and planning a nationwide mock accreditation exercise. Additionally, INEC is establishing a situation room for real-time monitoring before, during, and after the elections, and providing ongoing training and technical support for election personnel until 2027.",
  "summary": "The Independent National Electoral Commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Department to strengthen its ability to detect anomalies and counter disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while presenting an update on the commission’s preparations…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "INEC creates AI division to verify results, curb fake news",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/inec-creates-ai-division-to-verify-results-curb-fake-news",
        "published": "2026-10-06T13:15:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}