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Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is now accepting applications for the “training of trainers” opportunity from individuals in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It is part of Disarming Disinformation, a three-year global project run by the ICFJ with lead funding from the Scripps Howard Fund.
In a statement, the ICFJ said the training will equip professionals who are passionate about tackling disinformation to hold workshops and events for their communities, helping more people spot and push back against harmful, false information that can undermine democracy, endanger people’s wellbeing and more.
ICFJ Senior Programme Director, Paul Rothman, stated that to effectively combat disinformation and foster healthy, fact-based information ecosystems requires a high community-level awareness and action.
“Our goal is to equip journalists and community leaders across the world with the knowledge and skills to empower their local communities,” he said.
The statement noted that applicants will be invited to attend a four-hour online course (in English) led by the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise.
“After the online course, five applicants will be selected from each region to attend an in-person training, before each receives a $2,000 grant to implement their own community events and workshops. While this opportunity is not limited to journalists, applicants should have previous experience with disinformation issues and the credibility needed to build trust with their future trainees.
“Applications will close by August 4 and the online course will take place three days after, precisely on August 7, 2023 from 12-4 pm GMT. The immersive online course will be open to all participants and will cover a wide range of essential topics such as news literacy, media and information literacy, the seven types of mis- and disinformation, and fact-checking tools such as geolocation.
“The training will be focused on deepening participants’ technical expertise in areas such as the use of fact-checking and verification tools, as well as audience engagement and training. These sessions will be run by MediaWise, in collaboration with local partners from each of the target regions: Africa Check (Africa), FactCrescendo (Asia), Fatabyyano (MENA) and Media Development Foundation (Europe).
“Candidates who do not attend the online course will not be considered in the subsequent stage of the selection process for the in-person training and grant. Those who want to attend the online course but do not want to be considered for the grant selection will be able to select this option in the application form.
“After the training, grantees will go back to their countries where they will be expected to develop and organize their own events and workshops for at least 60 people before June 2024,” the statement added.
The international Training Manager at MediaWise, Brittani Kollar, while expressing her joy at the collaboration emphasized on the need for individuals to acquire skills to curb disinformation in the society.
“We could not be more excited to collaborate with ICFJ on their Disarming Disinformation Training of Trainees programme, and to work with distinguished regional partners to implement training that will resonate in their regional environments,” she said.
“False information, whether intentional or not, harms our global society. Through localized training, individuals will learn techniques relevant to them to assist in stopping the spread of false information,” Kollar added.
The Disarming Disinformation project is run by the ICFJ with lead funding from the Scripps Howard Fund. The three-year project will empower journalists and journalism students to fight disinformation, the statement noted.
FOLLOWING the reported cancellation of his 62nd birthday celebration, a claim that Peter Obi celebrated his 50th birthday in 2013 has circulated online.
The claim is circulating alongside a screen grab of a report published by The Nation newspaper on July 19, 2013, which reads: “Why I’ll not celebrate my 50th birthday, by Obi.”
Obi is the candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election held in February.
A Twitter user with the Twitter Blue tick, @StFreakingKezy tweeted the claim with a caption that read:
“Happy Birthday in advance to Mr Peter Obi the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Many happy returns. 2013: 50 years old. 2023: 62 years old. Abeg @U_Rochas which one should we believe now????”
The tweet has garnered over 300,000 views, more than 300 retweets and over 900 likes as of July 20, 2023.
Another Twitter user, @PastorMarvy, tweeted the claim with a caption which read:
“50 years in 2013. 62 years in 2023. How old is Peter “Barry Allen” Obi? Because this story no clear.”
The tweet has garnered more than 53,000 views, over 100 retweets and more than 260 likes as of July 20, 2023.
Similarly, another Twitter user with the Twitter Blue tick, @scarfizal also tweeted the claim with another caption thus:
“ In 2013, Peter Obi celebrated 50 years in 2023. Peter Obi is celebrating 62 years, yet his online Zombidiots always want to project the fraudulent ways of their principal on Tinubu. Peter Obi is a fraud yesterday today and tomorrow.”
CLAIM
Peter Obi celebrated his 50th birthday in 2013.
Screenshot of one of the viral tweets.
BACKGROUND
On Monday, July 17, 2023, Peter Obi via his verified Twitter announced that he would not be celebrating his 62nd birthday due to the deplorable state of the country.
He tweeted: “Wednesday 19th July 2023, marks my 62nd Birthday. While I remain immensely grateful to God for His infinite mercies, I still maintain my decision of over 20 years, that I will not celebrate my birthdays in today’s Nigeria, with the current deplorable state of the nation. However, some friends, members of the Labour Party, and OBIdient Family and supporters have asked how they can join me in celebrating that day, and even present some gifts.”
Following the announcement, some Nigerian Twitter users dug out a news report published by The Nation newspaper quoting Obi to have said he would not be celebrating his 50th in 2013. This suggests that he is 60-year-old and not 62 as he has claimed this year.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by TheFactCheckHub show that Peter Obi’s age is currently 62-year-old.
According to information uploaded on the Labour Party’s website, Peter Obi was born on July 19, 1961. This makes him 62-year-old in 2023 and 52 in 2013. This tallies with his profile published by Daily Trust in 2018 and his record published by Legit.ng in January, 2023.
Similarly, Obi was reported to be 61 years old last year, according to his official records for the Nigerian presidential election published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in September 2022.
Checks by TheFactCheckHub revealed that it is not only The Nation that reported that Obi clocked 50 in 2013. Some online platforms such as Ynaija, and Information.ng also reported the same information ten years ago.
The Punch also reported that Obi turned 50 in 2013 in a now-deleted post obtained through Wayback Machine, a digital service that allows people to visit archived versions of web links.
Further findings also led our researcher to a publication by All Africa credited to Vanguard two years earlier before 2013 which wrongly reported that Obi celebrated his 50th birthday in 2011.
Meanwhile, a media outfit, CKN News reported in 2013 that Obi was 52 at the time.
THE VERDICT
The claim that Peter Obi was 50 in 2013 is FALSE; multiple media reports and INEC record show that Peter Obi was born on July 19, 1961. Thus, he was 52 years old in 2013 and currently, he is 62 years old in 2023.
THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified disinformation, misinformation, myths and rumours as parts of the major factors responsible for poor immunisation uptake in Nigeria.
According to the organisation, the challenge is exposing young children to high risk and avoidable deaths.
The Chief UNICEF Field Officer, Rahama RM Farah, stated these in a welcome address during a media dialogue on routine immunisation and the Zero dose campaign held in Kano on Wednesday.
Farah said majority of the unvaccinated children are in Kano, adding that implementing the Nigeria primary health care policy will help capture unimmunised children in rural areas.
“In the three states of the north-west of Nigeria: Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, there are over 600,000 children who have not been vaccinated against childhood killer diseases,” Farah said.
“This is closer to about 40 per cent of the total unimmunised children in Nigeria.
“Over 300,000 of those children are in Kano state, representing 50 per cent of the three states under the UNICEF Kano office.
“This situation is unacceptable and should be reversed urgently.”
He said the governments of the three states should prioritise interventions by providing essential medical services and improving primary healthcare centres in the region.
“Myths, disinformation, misinformation and rumours have contributed a great deal to poor immunisation uptake, exposing children to high risk and death that can be avoidable when they don’t get immunised,” he added.
The UNICEF chief charged the media to raise awareness on the importance of immunisation to caregivers, families, and communities.
THE United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has said that malicious use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for terrorist, criminal, or state purposes could cause horrific levels of death and destruction leading to widespread trauma and deep psychological trauma.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the UN chief said that although AI is being used in connection with peace and security, including in the United Nations, it is being used to identify patterns of violence, monitor ceasefires, and more, helping to strengthen peacekeeping, mediation, and humanitarian efforts.
He added that AI is also being used for malicious intent as AI models can help people to harm themselves and each other at a massive scale.
“AI-enabled cyberattacks are already targeting critical infrastructure and our own peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, causing great human suffering. The technical and financial barriers to access are low, including for criminals and terrorists. Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security,” Guterres said.
While urging the Council to approach the technology with a sense of urgency, a global lens, and a learner’s mindset, he pointed out that the advent of generative AI could be an elucidating moment for disinformation and hate speech such as undermining truth, facts, and safety, adding a new dimension to the manipulation of human behavior and contributing to polarization and instability on a vast scale.
“Deepfakes are just one new AI-enabled tool that, if unchecked, could have serious implications for peace and stability. And the unforeseen consequences of some AI-enabled systems could create security risks by accident. Look no further than social media. Tools and platforms that were designed to enhance human connection are now used to undermine elections, spread conspiracy theories and incite hatred and violence,” he emphasized.
Other areas of concern he specifically mentioned include the malfunctioning AI systems, noting that the rate of interaction between AI and nuclear weapons, biotechnology, neuro-technology, and robotics is alarming.
Guterres said: “Generative AI has enormous potential for good and evil at scale. Its creators themselves have warned that much bigger, potentially catastrophic, and existential risks lie ahead. Without action to address these risks, we are derelict in our responsibilities to present and future generations.”
As part of measures to monitor and govern AI, the UN chief announced that a multi-stakeholder high-level Advisory Board for Artificial Intelligence that will report back on the options for global AI governance would be created.
Guterres also stated that an upcoming Policy Brief on A New Agenda for Peace would include recommendations on AI governance to Member States comprising:
1) It will recommend that Member States develop national strategies on the responsible design, development, and use of AI, consistent with their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law.
2) It will call on Member States to engage in a multilateral process to develop norms, rules, and principles around military applications of AI while ensuring the engagement of other relevant stakeholders.
3) It will call on Member States to agree on a global framework to regulate and strengthen oversight mechanisms for the use of data-driven technology, including artificial intelligence, for counter-terrorism purposes.
In conclusion, the UN chief urged the Council to exercise leadership on artificial intelligence while working together for AI to bridge social, digital, and economic divides.
THE Africa Check has announced that the 2023 edition of the Africa Facts summit will take place in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius on October 5 – 6, 2023.
According to the organizers, the event which aims at strengthening and elevating the practice of fact-checking and resilience-building in Africa will bring together fact-checking organizations and experts from all regions of the continent.
The Executive Director of Africa Check, Noko Makgato, in a statement explained that the summit serves as an opportunity for fact-checkers to come together to discuss challenges facing fact-checking practice and opportunities in the broader effort to counter misinformation and disinformation in Africa.
“It allows us to find context-specific solutions in response to the scourge of bad information.
“The summit aims to showcase the latest trends, research and practical approaches to countering the spread of false and misleading information in Africa.
“These will include the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence for fact-checkers, and why African fact-checkers should put climate change misinformation on the agenda. The meeting will also showcase effective media literacy activities and offer practical skills workshops,” he stated.
The summit will conclude with the highly anticipated African Fact-Checking Awards gala dinner which is the longest running and largest awards programme honouring fact-checking journalism in Africa, he noted.
AN image showing the football star, Lionel Messi, pushing a cart containing guns has surfaced online with a claim that it shows the Argentine shopping for guns for self-defence following his relocation to the United States of America.
A verified Twitter account, Troll Football tweeted the image with a caption that reads:
“Messi has already adapted the American culture.”
The tweet has garnered over 4 million views, over 7,000 retweets and more than 90,000 likes as of July 16, 2023.
A Facebook page, Soccer Gist posted the image with a caption thus:
“Messi has already adapted the American culture by buying guns just to threaten refs if they refuse to give him penalty.”
The post has generated over 300 likes and more than 60 comments as of July 16, 2023.
Another Twitter user, @Messi_SZN also tweeted the image with another caption that reads: “Messi shopping guns in Miami.”
The image has also circulated on multiple social media accounts, especially on Twitter and WhatsApp.
CLAIM
Image shows Messi shopping for guns in the United States.
Screenshot of the tweet posted by Troll Football showing the photoshopped viral image.
BACKGROUND
Lionel Messi completed his move to Inter Miami CF after exhausting his contract at French champions Paris Saint-Germain which gave him liberty to move to another club on a free transfer.
Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer team, announced that the Argentine football living legend has signed a contract that will run till 2025 with the team.
Following the development, Messi landed in South Florida on Tuesday, July 11 ahead of his official unveiling on Sunday (July 16).
The United States records high level of gun violence in the world.
The situation has led to the death of many of its citizens, as no fewer than 330,000 shooting incidents has been recorded in the United States in the last nine years.
As of May 1, 2023, a total of 13,959 people have died from gun violence in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive; this is an average of roughly 115 deaths each day.
With Messi moving into the country, his life and family might likely be at risk over the alarming situation.
The photo is being used to push a narrative that the Argentine has started buying guns for personal protection.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
A Google Reverse Image search shows that the image has been manipulated. The original photo shows Messi pushing a cart containing some consumable items while doing some casual grocery shopping at a supermarket in Miami on Thursday (July 13).
Daily Mail reported that Lionel Messi, his wife (Antonela) and his three children went shopping at a US supermarket in Florida. The football star was seen taking pictures with fans anticipating his debut for the club.
The original image showing Messi with a cart containing groceries.| Twitter
The original image shows when Messi was around the grocery store’s checkout counter with a cart containing groceries including General Mills’ Lucky Charms and Kellogg’s’ Fruit Loops.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the image shows Lionel Messi pushing a cart containing guns at a supermarket in the United States is MISLEADING; findings show that the viral image has been manipulated, as the cart contains groceries in the original photo.
RECENTLY, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced the suspension of Ejikeme Mmesoma from writing its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for three years over reported forgery of her 2023 result.
The board in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, said, “its system was neither tampered with nor compromised as the candidate simply falsified a copy of a result slip of a candidate named ‘Asimiyu Mariam Omobolanle’ who sat for the UTME in 2021 and scored 138.”
On the other hand, Mmesoma also shared her own side of the story.
In a viral video (now archived here) seen on social media, she showed the result she printed from the JAMB portal while reiterating that she never manipulated her result as alleged by the examination board.
According to her, she visited a cyber cafe to print her result and she was given a result slip with an aggregate score of 362. “They scanned this QR code here and it showed another name, a Yoruba name, Omotola Afolabi, 138,” she said.
Explaining further, she said the candidate linked to her QR code has another score reading 338, suggesting there’s a mix-up.
However, Mmesoma later admit to forging her UTME result, Arise News and TVC News reported.
Screenshot of the mobile app that allows users to create fake UTME results seen on Google Play store earlier but now removed from the store.
Our researchers at the FactCheckHub dig into the QR code phenomenon in a bid to educate the public about what QR code means, how it works, and how to avoid falling victim to QR code phishing or Quishing.
What is a QR Code?
The QR code stands for Quick Response code.
According to Kaspersky, a QR code is a type of barcode that can be read easily by a digital device and which stores information as a series of pixels in a square-shaped grid. QR codes are frequently used to track information about products in a supply chain and – because many smartphones have built-in QR readers – they are often used in marketing and advertising campaigns. More recently, they have played a key role in helping to trace coronavirus exposure and slow the spread of the virus.
An example of what a QR Code looks like.
While they may look simple, QR codes are capable of storing lots of data. But no matter how much they contain, when scanned, the QR code should allow the user to access information instantly – hence why it’s called a Quick Response code.
The technology for QR codes was developed by Densa-Wave, a Toyota subsidiary. The codes were originally used for tracking inventory and required a separate reader app, but beginning with iOS 11 and Android 8.0, readers are native to most mobile device cameras, explains a TechTarget report.
It added that Static QR codes are typically used to disseminate information to the general public. They are often displayed on posters and billboards and in ads in newspapers and magazines. The person who created the code can track information about the number of times their code was scanned and whether or not the code’s call to action was taken.
It noted that Dynamic QR codes (sometimes referred to as unique QR codes) offer more functionality. They can be edited at any time and even target a specific individual for personalized marketing. Such codes contain more metadata to facilitate tracking.
The data stored in a QR code can include website URLs, phone numbers, or up to 4,000 characters of text.
Are there dangers associated with QR codes?
QR codes are not inherently dangerous. They are simply a way to store data. However, just as it can be hazardous to click links in emails, visiting URLs stored in QR codes can also be risky in several ways, writesScott Ruoti, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, in The Conversation.
He says the QR code’s URL can take you to a phishing website that tries to trick you into entering your username or password for another website.
“The URL could take you to a legitimate website and trick that website into doing something harmful, such as giving an attacker access to your account. While such an attack requires a flaw in the website you are visiting, such vulnerabilities are common on the internet. The URL can take you to a malicious website that tricks another website you are logged into on the same device to take an unauthorized action,” says Ruoti.
Aside from opening a website, these actions can include adding contacts or composing emails. This element of surprise can make QR code security threats especially problematic – That is why it’s called QR code phishing or Quishing.
How does QR Code Phishing work?
Quick Response (QR) code phishing is a type of phishing attack that uses QR codes to lure victims into revealing sensitive information. It doesn’t differ from typical internet phishing.
“It’s a social engineering bout aiming to convince you to submit your financial details, personal information, or login particulars,” says Eric Solms, an IT specialist, via his blogpost on LinkedIn.
He explains that the scammer embeds a malicious link in the QR code’s barcode. After scanning, the link will lead you to a page that asks for your details and enables the attacker to steal your information.
He notes that QR code phishing or Quishing can occur online or offline. In the physical realm, QR code scammers replace the authentic QR codes on the walls of corporate offices, businesses, and government service points. “There’s no way to know whether the QR code is genuine or fake unless you see a replacement sign,” he says.
Physical QR code phishing can also occur in hotels, shopping malls, and other physical businesses. For example, suppose you are at a hospital or medical center, and someone mounts a QR Sticker on a wall. In that case, the average user won’t think it is a hacker putting a sticker; they will think it is the hospital, which can be an easy vulnerability, he opines.
Nwachukwu Ebenezer, an IT Support Specialist, also notes that this form of social engineering attack is gaining popularity among cybercriminals eager to steal people’s personal data.
“Quishing attacks can be hard to spot, as the attackers create legitimate-looking websites and logos impersonating known brands,” he adds.
It may also be configured to automatically download malware to the victim’s device allowing the attacker to steal sensitive information or take control of the device.
What happens if you scan fake or malicious QR codes?
Scanning fake or malicious QR codes can have serious implications as it does not only direct you to a URL but can take you to phishing websites designed to steal your bank accounts, credit cards, other personal or mobile apps information. Here are few things that could happen if you scan a malicious or fake QR code:
The QR code could send emails from your accounts, send pre-written emails and it can be programmed to access payment sites and also monitor social media accounts.
You could be directed to a phishing website. Threat actors develop websites that convincingly look like the content you expect then they request critical information from you which can be used to steal one’s identity.
Phony codes can be configured to automatically download contents into your mobile devices such as malware and Trojans.
Quick tips to protect yourself from QR code phishing
It is very important to be cautious and look out for red flags. Suspicious QR code placement, unexpected payment redirections, or personal information requests indicate a potential scam. If something feels off or seems too good to be true, it’s better to err on the side of caution and refrain from scanning the code.
Always verify the source before scanning QR codes. When scanning QR codes from unfamiliar sources or unsolicited messages, be cautious. After scanning, also check the destination site of the QR code to ensure the linked website or URL is secured.
Visually examine QR codes for any signs of fiddling or manipulation as scammers may place stickers or overlays on genuine QR codes to redirect you to malicious websites. This occurs often with QR codes displayed in public places or in malls.
Scanning QR codes that promise freebies or prizes, especially from unsolicited messages or emails, can lead to email scams or phishing. Verify its authenticity before scanning.
Install and use trusted QR code scanner application on your mobile devices. Download from Google Play Store or Apple App Store only, and read reviews before downloading.
Keep your smartphone operating system, apps, and QR code scanner updated with the latest security patches. Also, enable automatic updates whenever possible on your mobile devices.
Be cautious when scanning QR codes that request personal details or login credentials; it might be phishing scams. Better still, you can manually enter the website URL into your mobile browsers instead of scanning the code directly.
When using a QR code scanning app, review the permissions it requests. Be very cautious of apps that request excessive authorizations, such as accessing your contacts, messages, or other personal information that are unrelated to scanning QR codes.
It is important to look out for phishing links and questionable attachments in emails.
Always double-check the URL to ensure it matches the legitimate website you intended to visit.
When scanning QR codes that lead to websites or online payment or social platforms, ensure you are connected to a secure network. Public Wi-Fi networks can be vulnerable to eavesdropping and data interception.
Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible, especially for financial transactions or accessing sensitive information.
Stay informed about common QR code scams and techniques used by attackers. Self-awareness is key to identifying and possibly avoiding potential threats.
More importantly, take immediate action if you come across a suspicious QR code or believe you have fallen victim to a QR code phishing or Quishing. Report the incident to relevant government agencies such as NCC, NITDA or the consumer protection agency in the country. Also, if it involves financial payment or transaction, quickly reach out to your bank through its customer care numbers to alert them and to further minimize potential damage or seek assistance in resolving the issue.
A recent survey carried out by the University of Cambridge has shown that Gen Z and Millennials are more susceptible to fake news than older generations despite spending more time online than older adults.
The FactCheckHub has published a quick tutorial on how to identify fake news online. If you are a Gen Z or millennial, you might want to learn how here.
The report, by UK’s Cambridge University, stated that the survey carried out using Chat GPT technology was a two-minute quiz developed by psychologists in the University which is the first validated “misinformation susceptibility test” (MIST).
The quick two-minute quiz gives proof of how vulnerable a person is to being duped by the kind of fabricated news that is spread online.
The test, proven to work through a series of experiments involving over 8,000 participants and taking place over two years, has been deployed by a polling organization YouGov to determine how susceptible Americans are to fake headlines.
The first survey used the new 20-point test, called ‘MIST’ by researchers and developed using an early version of ChatGPT, which has found that – on average – adult US citizens correctly classified two-thirds (65 per cent) of headlines they were shown as either real or fake.
According to the report, the polling found that younger adults are worse than older adults at identifying false headlines and that the more time someone spent online for entertainment, the less likely they were to be able to tell real news from misinformation.
The senior author of the MIST study, and head of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab, Professor Sander van der Linden stated in the report that misinformation is one of the biggest challenges posed to democracies in the digital age.
“We are seeing how online falsehoods create polarized belief systems in major nations. To understand where and how best to fight misinformation, we need a unified way of measuring susceptibility to fake news. That is what our test provides,” said van der Linden.
The Cambridge team developed assessment tools that enabled them to work out the right level and mix of fake and genuine headlines to produce reliable results.
To create false but confusingly credible headlines – similar to misinformation encountered “in the wild” – in an unbiased way, researchers used artificial intelligence: ChatGPT version 2.
“When we needed a set of convincing but false headlines, we turned to GPT technology. The AI-generated thousands of fake headlines in a matter of seconds. As researchers dedicated to fighting misinformation, it was eye-opening and alarming,” said Dr. Rakoen Maertens, MIST lead author.
An international committee of misinformation experts reduced the true and false headline selections for the MIST after which adaptations of the survey were then tested extensively in experiments involving thousands of UK and US participants.
The latest YouGov survey which was taken in April saw 1,516 adult US citizens take the MIST and also respond to questions covering demographics, politics, and online behaviour.
11 per cent of 18-29-year-olds got a high score (over 16 headlines correct), while 36% got a low score (10 headlines or under correct). By contrast, 36% of those 65 or older got a high score, while just 9% of older adults got a low score.
Additionally, the report stated the longer someone spent online for pleasure each day, the greater their susceptibility to misinformation, according to the MIST.
30 per cent of individuals who spend less than 2 hours for recreation online each day got a high score, compared to just 15% of those spending 9 or more hours online.
The survey also analyzed channels through which respondents receive their news. The “legacy media” came out top. For example, over 50 per cent of those who got their news from the Associated Press, or NPR, or newer outlets such as Axios, achieved high scores.
Social media had the news audiences most susceptible to misinformation. Some 53 per cent of those who got news from Snapchat received low scores, with just 4 per cent getting high scores. Truth Social was a close second, followed by WhatsApp, TikTok and Instagram.
Dr Maertens added: “Younger people increasingly turn to social media to find out about the world, but these channels are awash with misinformation. Approaches to media literacy, as well as algorithms and platform design, require an urgent rethink.”
“The MIST will allow us to verify the effectiveness of interventions to tackle fake news. We want to explore why some people are more resilient to misinformation, and what we can learn from them,” he concluded.
Fact-checkers and journalists in Africa have been urged to utilize their verification skills to ensure free flow of factual information in public so as to curb misinformation that may undermine democracy in the continent.
The training titled: Advanced Course on Disinformation, Fact-checking and Digital Cybersecurity for Nigerian Journalists, aims at empowering Nigerian journalists with verification and digital cybersecurity skills.
The two-day training included courses such as understanding how ChatGPT works, advanced internet search, disinformation techniques, image and video verification, digital cybersecurity for journalists and fact-checking ethics for journalists.
“We are very proud to collaborate with our Nigerian partners in this training programme that aims to strengthen the capacities of African journalists in fact-checking and digital security. We believe that these skills are essential for a quality journalism that can inform citizens and combat misinformation that can undermine democracy and human rights,” José Segura said.
He noted that the training is part of the #periodismoAfrica programme of Casa África which seeks to bring Africa and Spain closer together through educational, economic, cultural and informative activities.
He emphasized that for the past 15 years, Casa África has been fighting against stereotypes in narratives about African continent and supporting the role journalism plays as a powerful tool in the fight against misinformation.
Also speaking at the event, Tobi Oluwatola, the Executive Director of Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), stated that the influx of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transposing the world and the need for journalists to apply them in verification and digital literacy.
He said: “AI and its new iteration of large language models have changed the world in ways we do not fully comprehend yet. It is critical that Journalists are able to explain and leverage them for democratic purposes such as verification and digital literacy.”
Commenting on the programme, Juan Sell, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, who attended the training’s closing ceremony, added that the reinforcement of a free, independent media in Africa is crucial to Spain.
“Spain is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU this Semester and among our priorities there is certainly the support of a free, independent, trustworthy and competent media, in Africa and elsewhere, as it is a prerequisite for a thriving and inclusive democracy.
“Casa Africa is hitting the bulls-eye by bringing the most specialized fact-checkers of Spain to train Nigerian journalists and partnering with Dubawa, an already reputed platform in the field of nowadays essential fight against disinformation,” Sell said.
It’s no longer news that online users are faced with the perennial problem of fake news as they surf the internet or navigate various social media platforms. But knowing how to identify what can be labelled as fake news is an essential skill in recent time, especially if you’re a Millennial or Gen Z.
But, what is fake news?
According to Cambridge Dictionary, fake news are false stories that appear to be news, spread on the internet or using other media, usually created to influence political views (i.e. in form of propaganda) or as a joke.
Fake news can be classified into misinformation, disinformation and mal-information (MDM). Things that makes a news story fake include information that is not and can not be verified, pieces written by non-experts, information that cannot be found on any credible website, stories that appeal to the readers’ emotion rather than stating facts and information that comes from phishing websites.
Proliferation of fake news is not a new or recent occurrence, fake news is as old as the media itself. But the influx of social media platforms have made it easier for the spread of fake news to thrive, thus making it hard for people to decipher facts from fake news on the internet.
This is majorly as a result of individuals solely relying on social media for news rather than the traditional media.
Due to the evolution of fake news from traditional media to digital and social media, it can now be categorized into various forms which include click-bait, propaganda, biased news, imposter content and misleading headlines etc.
All of these employ elements of MDM narratives such as exaggerated content, mal-information, biases and misleading headlines. Below are five quick tips to identifying false information shared on social media platforms:
Tips to identifying fake news on social media
1. Poor Grammar
When a message is written with poor grammar and lexical structure, there’s a high chance that the message is a misinformation piece. Authors of misinformation know that most readers do not dedicate time and effort to read posts when browsing through social media; thus, making it easy for readers not to notice misspellings and improper punctuation. It is not that all internet content should be complex, but more about knowing how to identify content that is suspiciously simple. Individuals should therefore take their time to read news posts carefully.
2. Emotional Influence
As humans, it is natural that our emotions influences our mental processes and decision making. Making it easy for purveyors of fake news to exploit our emotions so individuals are not able to decipher whether the content is true or not because they appeal to emotions generating anger, fear or sorrow to cloud their thinking. Readers should take note when reading a post and be able to detect if a post is trying to appeal to their emotions rather than stating facts.
3. Check the web address
When someone sends you a link, check the web address. Most fake news websites have incorrect spellings or incoherent and funny names in their URL. If you are unfamiliar with the website, you can check its “About Us” section. Every legitimate and credible website has that feature. You can also easily learn how to check a website here.
4. Verify the source/check other sources
Are they credible? Are they accountable? Do their content appeal to a specific demographic? Did they cite credible sources? If you are skeptical about the content, a simple Google search would confirm or dissuade your doubts and if other reputable news or media outlets are reporting the story.
5. Reach out to fact-checking organizations
Reports with false information often contain incorrect dates or altered timelines, so it’s a good idea to check when the article was published. Is it a current or old news story? If you have any doubts whatsoever about the facts or sources stated in the story you can reach out to the The FactCheckHub or any other credible fact-checking organization within your geographical entity. These organisations also train individuals to use fact-checking tools in helping them recognize fake news and strengthen their media literacy.
Recently, Meta and Twitter have devised a method to prevent misinformation on their platforms. Instagram and Facebook, both owned by Meta, have a new “false information” label to combat disinformation. After a false/misleading verdict has been declared on claims and posts reviewed by fact-checking organizations, they flag it with a label to notify social media users that it contains misinformation. Twitter on the other hand use community notes to guide readers with a link/ source containing factual information if a post turns out to be a disinformation piece.
