Hi Patrick, You may not have joined the list but KICTANet and other local partners such as CIPIT , BAKE and the NCIC have made efforts to sensitize the Public on Fake News. KICTANet in partnership with NCIC actually hosted a workshop at the Stanley Hotel on Fake news in September 2017. Another policy brief touching on information controls was produced just before the elections. You can find the Policy briefs on the KICTAnet website. Best On 29 Jan 2019 06:11, "Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet" < kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote: I pray that Government officials on this list will take the AFP article below seriously. The technologies described in the article are real and could be used to radicalize ignorant youth or to spark chaos e.g. during political transition events. These are REAL RISKS I believe that need to be addressed PROACTIVELY - before we get into the election (or even referendum cycle). "A well-timed and thoughtfully scripted deepfake or series of deepfakes could tip an election, spark violence in a city primed for civil unrest, bolster insurgent narratives about an enemy's supposed atrocities, or exacerbate political divisions in a society. With believable fake videos in circulation, people can choose to believe whatever version or narrative that they want, and that's a real concern." *- Professors Danielle Citron - University of Maryland and Robert Chesney - University of Texas* Scientists are working on technologies to detect deep fakes - but it may not be reliable (or available in Africa). Detection may also not be a practical solution after a video goes viral and leads to chaos. "It's more important to disrupt the process than to analyse the videos. An important way to deal with deepfakes is to INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS, making people more skeptical of what used to be considered incontrovertible proof." *- Professor Siwei Lyu - State University of New York at Albany* TECH BREAK: Misinformation woes could multiply with 'deepfake' <https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/Deepfake-videos/1190-4954688-q7robjz/index.html> TECH BREAK: Misinformation woes could multiply with 'deepfake' Deepfake videos are becoming more sophisticated due to advances in artificial intelligence. <https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/Deepfake-videos/1190-4954688-q7robjz/index.html> _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Twitter: http://twitter.com/kictanet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KICTANet/ Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail... The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.