| Abstract: |
Democracy in Nigeria, as in many other nations, rests heavily on access to credible
information and public trust in media institutions. The growing use of artificial
intelligence (AI) technologies has introduced fresh strains on this relationship.
Tools such as deepfakes, chatbots, and algorithmic news feeds now make it easier to
create and circulate misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) at
speed and scale. This paper examines how AI-driven content is affecting journalism
and democratic communication in Nigeria. Drawing on the 2019 and 2023 general
elections, the COVID-19 pandemic, and narratives around ethnic and religious
conflict, it considers both the ways AI amplifies harmful content and the limited but
important roles it can play in countering it. The discussion assesses effects on media
credibility, public trust, and the quality of democratic deliberation, and ends with
practical suggestions for restoring trust through greater transparency, stronger
media literacy, clearer regulation, and closer cooperation among journalists,
technology developers, and government. |
