KAMPALA, September 4, 2024 — The rise of social media and digital platforms has accelerated the spread of disinformation and misinformation, undermining traditional media’s dominance and fostering mistrust in the government, according to George William Nyombi Thembo, the Executive Director of Uganda Communications Commission [UCC].
Nyombi was on Tuesday discussing how the rise of social media and digital platforms have revolutionised news and information generation and how they have accelerated the spread of news and diminished the dominance of traditional media. This was during the Annual Media Convention 2024 organised by UCC in conjunction with Makerere University under the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Social Networks to Combat Misinformation in Uganda.”
He said misinformation threatens the existence of the state and yet nothing can be done without the state.
Participants at the event explored strategies for leveraging Artificial Intelligence [AI] and Social Networks to combat misinformation and disinformation in Uganda.
The UCC Head Litigation, Prosecution and Legal Advisory Abdu Salam said AI is here to stay as it offers solutions through detection, filtering, and assists fact-checkers to improve journalism and communication.
However, Salam said there’s no low to regulate AI “but we have other media laws that should help us in regulating the use of Artificial intelligence”. He was discussing how the media, and communicators in Uganda can leverage AI in their work.
Contributing to the debate, Prof. Bruce Mutsvairo of Utrecht University in the Netherlands argued that AI has limitations when it comes to journalistic and communication work, saying that journalists are trained to establish the truth: “AI doesn’t have the capacity to determine if it is being lied to or not. Journalists have that capacity. They are trained to do that,” he said.
Mutsvairo also said, “The frightening speed with which misinformation is spreading on social media deserves significant attention.”
He said the misappropriation of social media platforms has been a worrying trend for every society in the world. “Today everyone who has access to social media considers themselves an expert,” he said.
Nyombi stated that massively consumed service like the internet cannot be left to the whims of chance when it comes to regulations. Today, many people with smartphones refer to themselves as journalists, and television stations, among others, although he said, “With the digital revolution, information has been democratised. “It is more accessible than any service you could think of.”
On his part, Makerere University Secretary Yusuf Kiranda was concerned that some people are making money out of the social media platforms by abusing and harassing others. “Why should someone make money on their social media platforms by abusing another?” Kiranda said.
Addressing participants at the event, State Minister for ICT Godfrey Kabbyanga Baluku said IA is one of the most transformative technologies holding the power to influence nearly every aspect of our lives, including global communications. He said AI has capacity to both spread and combat misinformation. “While AI can unfortunately be misused to amplify deceptive content through means like bots and fake accounts, it also holds the potential to filter and promote accurate information,” he said.
He called upon all stakeholders, including government bodies, tech companies, policymakers, academia, and civil society, to collaborate in developing robust strategies to tackle this issue.
The minister said government is committed to increasing investment in research and education to ensure that communities are equipped with the skills needed to navigate today’s complex information landscape.
He urged UCC to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to the rapid technological advancements in AI. He stressed the necessity of establishing ethical guidelines for AI development, promoting transparency, accountability, and responsible use.
“Educational institutions like Makerere University have a critical role in fostering research and dialogue needed to address these challenges,” he said. “Together, we must commit to harnessing AI for the greater good, ensuring it contributes to a more informed, educated, and resilient society. I look forward to the valuable insights that will emerge from our discussions today, as they will be essential in shaping a better future with AI.”
The event held at Makerere University Yusuf Lule Auditorium was attended by journalists, bloggers, citizen media, academicians, public relations practitioners, regulators, communication experts, politicians, security personnel, civil society organisations, students, and government representatives.
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