Many predicted a revolution in the world of disinformation during the 2024 U.S. election due to the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI). But it hasn’t come to pass – at least not yet. ICFJ Knight Fellow Laura Zommer breaks down how to monitor the status of disinformation and AI in the days leading up to Nov. 5.
In 2018, Dr. Tamilselvi Natarajan came across a video depicting a child kidnapping, which spread widely on WhatsApp in India. In reality, however, the video was actually a public service announcement — not an actual kidnapping. The incident inspired the media educator to pursue training in fact-checking. Through an ICFJ and MediaWise program, she connected with advanced tools to continue to educate students about mis- and disinformation.
As Indonesia’s urban centers develop, Zulfa Amira Zaed carries a weight of concern for her fellow Indonesians who live in remote forest regions. But helping these communities navigate the challenges of disinformation proved difficult for Amira Zaed in the past, as she did not have the means to reach remote areas nor the resources to teach them. Through ICFJ training, she was able to improve her own media literacy and share her findings with her neighbors.
Harriet Atyang is helping build a stronghold against disinformation in western Kenya. As the founder of a local radio station called Dada Radio based in Siaya, Kenya, she believes in the power of information. Through the first 19-person cohort of Disarming Disinformation’s training of trainers, she learned how to use and teach media literacy skills. In the months since, she has passed on those skills through mentorship programs for journalism students and workshops for community members.
James Okong'o — who recently published an eye-opening investigation about disinformation campaigns in Kenya and Nigeria — is just one of many journalists ICFJ has equipped to reach voters with trustworthy news. In a year when more than 60 countries are holding national elections, this support is foundational.
Investigative journalist James Okong’o interviewed six “digital mercenaries” to uncover how they were paid to organize disinformation campaigns and influence recent elections in Kenya and Nigeria. The report, published by Agence France-Presse Fact Check, revealed new details about how these influential bloggers and social media personalities worked to discredit political opponents, undermine political institutions and fuel tensions.
Many journalists in ICFJ’s network are reporting on the dozens of elections happening worldwide, working to uncover the lies targeting voters – not an easy task.
Investigative reporting teams across four continents are working with ICFJ’s support to expose the sources and money behind electoral disinformation campaigns, in a pivotal year for democracy when more than 2.6 billion people are expected to go to the polls.
For two decades, Metamorphosis Foundation has played a prominent role in countering false narratives and leading digital literacy campaigns in North Macedonia, a country where mis- and disinformation run rampant.
Journalists and developers at ChequeaBolivia have created and launched Checki, a chatbot that uses multimedia content and games to fight misinformation among young people. This project was led by Lucas Illanes and supported by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).
