December 08, (THEWILL) – Meta, the parent company for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to combat fake news and hate speech, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The company’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Adaora Ikenze, made this known during a media roundtable event in Lagos.
Ikenze said Meta would be taking aggressive steps to fight the spread of fake news on its services in Nigeria.
”We know it is important for people to see accurate information on Facebook and Instagram”, she said.
She said Meta would henceforth remove any sensitive fake information that could lead to imminent violence or physical harm, adding that it would be working with its fact-checking partners, AFP, Africa Check and Dubawa.
Ikenze explained that the fact-checking would review and rate potentially false content on the platforms, label it, and place it lower in the feed, so that fewer people could see it.
“To further educate Nigerians on how to spot false news and the actions to take, we are partnering with local radio stations to create ‘#NoFalseNews’ radio dramas in English and Pidgin.
“Meta would also be executing a WhatsApp awareness campaign, #YouSaid in Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Pidgin, to educate users to verify information before sharing and running online ads on Facebook.
“Meta’s approach has also been informed by conversations with human rights groups, NGOs, local civil society organisations, regional experts and local election authorities – to help ensure the safety of people using Meta’s family of apps.
“We know we have an important responsibility when it comes to helping keep people safe during the elections.
“Using lessons from the past including input from experts and policymakers across the national spectrum, we have made substantial investments in people and technology to reduce misinformation.
“We intend to remove harmful content on our platforms, fight voter interference and promote civic engagement during the elections.
“Meta will continue to work closely with election authorities and local partners in Nigeria to ensure we are preparing for the specific challenges in Nigeria and taking appropriate steps to stay ahead of emerging threats”, she said, adding that some other steps being taken to prepare for the elections included addressing virality.
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