Minister of Information Decries Use of Deepfakes to Undermine Public Officials

 

Abuja, Nigeria – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has raised concerns over the growing misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly deepfakes, in the deliberate spread of misinformation aimed at discrediting public officials.
The Minister made the remarks on Friday while receiving the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Addressing the delegation, Idris warned that deepfake technology is being weaponized to create false and damaging content, often portraying public figures in scandalous or compromising situations.
“You could be sitting right here, and someone could superimpose another person’s head onto your body, completely misrepresenting you,” he said. “Every day, the president says something and it is twisted. A minister makes a statement and it’s misrepresented. This is a growing threat.”
The Minister lamented that such manipulations have destroyed reputations and traumatized families, emphasizing the need for urgent action to curb their spread.
In response to the rising threat, the Federal Government, according to Idris, is working closely with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to clean up the social media space while upholding the principles of freedom of expression.
“As a government, we are looking at how to sanitize the social media space without gagging freedom of expression,” he noted. “Fortunately, the world is coming together on this issue, and UNESCO is taking the lead.”
Idris disclosed that UNESCO has received input from over 100 countries, with more than 10,000 contributions submitted. The organization has also produced a comprehensive guide for digital content creators to promote ethical practices online.
He urged the NUJ to take an active role in supporting the fight against fake news and misinformation, and in promoting professionalism within the journalism industry.
“We want to collaborate with you to eradicate quackery in journalism and to encourage citizen journalists and the public to only publish what they know to be true,” the Minister said.
During the meeting, Idris also announced that UNESCO has approved the establishment of a Category 2 Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute in Nigeria—the first of its kind in the world. The institute will be tasked with equipping journalists, students, and citizens with the skills needed to critically assess information in the digital space, combat fake news, and promote responsible media engagement.
The Minister congratulated the NUJ on its 70th anniversary, praising the union’s longstanding service to the nation. He reaffirmed the Tinubu Administration’s dedication to press freedom, describing it as a cornerstone of democracy and national development.
In his remarks, NUJ President Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya commended President Tinubu for appointing a seasoned media professional to head the Information Ministry. He pledged the union’s commitment to supporting the Ministry’s public enlightenment efforts and also shared plans for the NUJ’s upcoming anniversary celebration, where the Minister is expected to serve as Chief Host.

Editor’s Note: As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, the call for media literacy, responsible content creation, and journalistic ethics has never been more urgent. Nigeria’s new MIL Institute may well serve as a global model in the fight against digital misinformation