2023: Mobile App Launched To Combat Fake News
RiseNetworks, a data science and artificial intelligence company, has launched a verification mobile app to combat fake news ahead of the February 25 and March 11 elections, which are only 32 days away.
RiseNetworks developed the “Run Am” mobile app in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation, the Centre for Geo-Information, Technology, and Development, and the Centre for Democracy and Development over the weekend in Abuja.
Tayasi Akerele Ogunsiji, the founder and CEO of RiseNetworks, stated at the unveiling that if downloaded, the mobile app would aid in the verification of fake news and images, as well as reduce the incidences of electoral violence before, during, and after the elections.
According to her, the mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, is a tool that will ensure information efficiency and accountability during the 2023 election campaign and beyond.
According to her, the app includes a news verification feature, an image verification feature, and a voter education feature to combat misinformation that could lead to violence during elections.
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“During elections, fake news is used to create a lot of voter apathy, so you see a lot of news like 50 people have been killed in a particular local government. And because of that, people who have their PVCs will not want to come out to vote because they are afraid.
“But when you find out, you will see that that information is not true but when voters do not turn up, that is when it will be easy for them to rig the elections. And those are the kind of problems the Run-Am App intends to solve,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Victor Aluko who expressed worry over the spate of fake news in the country appreciated the company for its efforts at combating fake news that may undermine the electoral processes in the country.
He said, “We are going into a serious election that will be contested by powerful individuals and political parties and you will see a situation where the electoral process will be pulled in various directions.
“When we have that, you will see a lot of combination of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation and we are looking at how we can manage our results to make sure that people don’t misinform Nigerians.
“So when we have this type of App, from reputable organizations like this, we tend to identify with them and express our happiness that this is coming from a Nigerian organization.”
Correspondingly, the deputy country director of the MacArthur Foundation Africa office, Dayo Olaide stated that democracy had continued to be faced with global threats across the globe which growing influence of fake news, and there is a need for accountability even as Nigeria enters the elections period.
2023: Mobile App Launched To Combat Fake News
