Ahead of the 2023 presidential and governorship elections, the federal government of Nigeria has signed agreements with tech giants, Meta and Google, to tackle and curb the spread of fake news and promote the integrity of the forthcoming elections in Nigeria.

The agreements which were reached on Friday between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and respective representatives from Meta and Google contained four demands which were presented by the Minister who was representing the federal government. The agreements which included cooperation by the tech giants with the federal government by flagging and taking down the post that is fake on their platforms,

While other agreements include;

– Working with security agents in Nigeria to take down posts that are aimed at inciting violence before, during, and after the elections.

– It was also agreed that election results not disseminated from original sources, are to be flagged as unverified and false by Meta and Google on their various platform.

– Meta and Google also agreed to make posts from official government channels, like the Ministry of Information and Culture, INEC, National Orientation Agency, etc., more prominent on their platforms.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed had earlier highlighted the importance of the elections to the country and the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians and the global community to enable and ensure a free and fair election is conducted in Nigeria, to which he noted the use of social media is a vital factor in the coming elections happening in Nigeria on Feb 25th and Mar 11 but of late the Minister expressed concerns over the use of fake news and disinformation on the social media platform to discredit the elections.

“There has been a gross abuse of social media platforms to purvey fake news and disinformation ahead of the elections. These unscrupulous people are resorting to the use of parody accounts, cloning of reputable media platforms, and the use of deep fakes to carry out their nefarious activities. For example, candidates’ campaign speeches are doctored to portray them in a bad light, and video clips and pictures of campaign rallies are tampered with to make them look poorly attended.”

He added that “Fake or unscientific opinion polls are concocted, while threats of violence in certain parts of the country are exaggerated. All of these are then circulated via social media to a wide audience, with the aim of making their target candidates look bad, influencing public perception or even suppressing votes in certain areas.
“We have therefore invited you, platform owners, here so we can work together to reduce these negative tendencies before, during, and after the forthcoming elections”.

However, before the agreement was reached between the tech giants and Federal Government, Meta disclosed that it had set up a cross-functional team that is spread across the world to monitor posts by Nigerians, before, during, and the after the elections, especially on Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2023/02/05/2023-elections-fg-signs-agreement-with-google-meta-to-handle-fake-news/

That us long overdue

Interesting

Lol

Surprisingly it is the news from the presidential pressmen and team that would be flagged the most as fake news

Is it only during elections period that this is necessary or needed?

If you don't want to miss Buhari, be careful of who you vote for

Amazing stuff.
Way to go.

Good one if only APC will not spread fake by themselves

It may be the case, that they took a loan from China, to be able to come to such terms. There is, in the end , no free lunch anywhere. Tinubu has shown unwillingness to exacerbate the suffering of Nigeria, for any climate change agenda. Google and Meta are invested in the endeavor. They may as well be bias due to sentiments of the aspirants.

Yet, clueless people. Will they flag end to end encrypted broadcast messages on WhatsApp. Twitter is the pool . The Nigeria Facebook community does not engage in politics as such. Nigeria’s online political discussion thrives on Twitter. Yet it is Facebook they are concerned about.

Globad:
Is it only during elections period that this is necessary or needed?

Election time or else it will be abused.

Good one, but I think this gesture should also continues after 2023 election

FG should meet with Ireporters, TVC & Nairaland urchins as well.

postbox:

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2023/02/05/2023-elections-fg-signs-agreement-with-google-meta-to-handle-fake-news/

No be everything be ban and gra gra

President is serious about conducting a free and fair election and we like it

Let those who only win election through vote buying and snatching of ballot boxes in Lagos should meet us at the poll on 25th

Thank you Presidnet Muhammadu Buhari

ecolime:
FG should meet with Ireporters, TVC & Nairaland urchins as well.

Ireporters is one of the Tinubu fake news media platform . They specializes in dishing out fake news to deceive Nigerians

Nobody takes them serious because they are criminals

Just prove to google it’s not fake news by attaching video evidence, shikenah

postbox:

SOURCE:https://brandspurng.com/2023/02/05/2023-elections-fg-signs-agreement-with-google-meta-to-handle-fake-news/

Quite fantastic! Because we know those who believe that they are legitimately untutored online warriors 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

It's a shame that there are people happy over this news. How can Buhari invite foreign companies to tackle "fake news" within the country.... These services "Meta" and "Google" can't be trusted to carryout such tasks that has to do with our election and it is extremely dangerous to our sovereignty to encourage such arrangements (I've not heard of any other African country with such arrangement)... Don't forget that in 2015, Facebook was allegedly used as propaganda tool by the west (US government et al).... to boost Buhari's popularity.... I hope the national assembly can revisit this matter.... The APC government can use this initiative to silence opposition because when you say fake news.... Who decides what is fake news and disinformation?

Abeg who this man offend ??

this will not stop Nigeria from being a jungle that it is🤒. Common currency redesign that was supposed to tackle insecurities (bandits and kidnappers) and vote buying (politicians) has now become an anti people's policy🤔. Imagine people queuing by 5am just to withdraw from atm😢 meanwhile politicians and bandits are in stocks of new money😮.
Omor I fear who no fear Nigerians

you mean liar mooohamed can talk about Fake news ____ meanwhile you spread fake news more than anyone

malali:
Abeg who this man offend ??

You no fit ask the man wey offend?

That ireportlive of a guy should be arrested for fake news

I was liking the laudable initiative until I saw Lai Mohammed's name in the news.

Nigeria can be better,the citizens don't have to always run away from the country, insecurity can be curbed,do you quota to bring the new Nigeria you and your children would be proud of,vote wisely,a vote for Peter Obi of Labour party is a step towards libration of Nigeria.

Especially the ones coming from the old thief slaves. Only one man have succeeded in enslaving his tribesmen with thuggery nd agbero work😂😂 but this time around ObiDatti must free them from the shackles of the old thief so they can see the light

Fighter2029:
Nigeria can be better,the citizens don't have to always run away from the country, insecurity can be curbed,do you quota to bring the new Nigeria you and your children would be proud of,vote wisely,a vote for Peter Obi of Labour party is a step towards libration of Nigeria.

About who to vote in the upcoming election, I don't see this election as a means to tackle the issues we are facing. I am in support of restructuring, I think we need a decentralized system of government where states are autonomous with little federal influence over state resources (Let state governors have 100% resource control).... I wish Nigerians will push for restructuring instead of elections that will bring back the same evil people that are oppressing us.... But if I am to vote in 2023 presidential election, I won't vote for Obi, I will vote for Sowore..... I understand many Nigerians are supporting Obi, personally I am yet to come to terms with the craze over Obi because by this time last year Obi was a PDP presidential contestant.... In 2019, he ran with Atiku on the same platform so I think if he wins, his government policies won't be different from an Atiku presidency.... He will be a continuation of the status quo maybe with a little difference (In terms of stopping stealing of public funds) but I doubt if he will be courageous to recover looted funds or make critical reforms.... It is glaring that a Peter Obi government won't be able to call Buhari and members of his cabinet to account for the trillions misappropriated in the last 8 years.... One major reason I will vote for Sowore is because of his fearless tenacity and unrelenting quest for justice.... He has been consistent over the years in the struggle against Nigeria's bad leaders.... In 2015 he like other Nigerians who fail for the APC propaganda supported Buhari but ever since Buhari fellout with Nigerians, Sowore has been critical of the bad policies and has been consistent in publicly condemning it. I understand that the fact that he supported Buhari in 2015 and his inexperience in government (No record of past political appointments) have been issues Nigerians have with him but if I am to vote, I will vote for him..... I believe he will be a better president than Obi....

Akaujaa:
I was liking the laudable initiative until I saw Lai Mohammed's name in the news.

I can't agree more including urchins spreading lies and propaganda to promote a certain microphone licker to rule over us in 21st century. SHAME!!!