Full Fact, a UK-based charity that focuses on fact-checking and combating misinformation, has teamed up with African organizations that promote credibility in information during the upcoming general election in Nigeria, set to take place on February 25, 2023.
The charity has partnered with International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) members Africa Check, Dubawa, and FactCheckHub to expand the use of its artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help stop the spread of misinformation during the election.
The collaboration was made possible thanks to a $2 million grant from Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org.
With the support of seven technical Google.org Fellows, who worked on a pro bono basis, Full Fact’s AI technology has seen a 1000x increase in claim detection, which is the process of identifying which claims are most important to fact-check.
In 2020, the technology was able to scale fact-checks to appear in 237 million search results, and it will now be used in a Nigerian election for the first time.
The AI tool will offer instant transcription services and real-time fact-checking during debates, speeches, and throughout the election process to increase the speed and accuracy of information dissemination.
Full Fact will provide ongoing training and support to its local fact-checking partners during the election process.
Despite the emergence of organizations and initiatives aimed at countering the spread of misinformation and promoting accurate information in Nigeria, fact-checking still faces challenges such as limited resources and difficulties accessing information.
However, with the help of AI technology, Full Fact is determined to make it harder for false and misleading claims to spread and erode trust in democracy.
Will Moy, CEO of Full Fact, stated, “Every vote should be an informed vote. We’ve seen first-hand how bad information spreads during an election and it can’t be allowed to undermine democracy.
Our AI tools, with support from Google.org, help fact-checkers stay ahead of false claims and promote accurate information. We’re proud to support our partners in Nigeria during this important time.”
Dawn Dimowo, Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, Nigeria, also stated, “Continuing our support for Full Fact in Nigeria is an exciting opportunity to help stop the spread of misinformation and promote accurate information during the election.
This builds on our ongoing efforts to support local fact-checking initiatives. We’re proud to support this important project and make a positive difference in the world.”
The Full Fact AI suite is a combination of AI and human expertise that enables Full Fact AI users to effectively combat misinformation while maintaining high standards of accuracy and credibility. It provides three tools to Nigerian fact-checkers: the Search tool, the Alerts tool, and the Real-Time tool.
The Search tool helps identify the most significant statements to fact-check each day by monitoring online media, social media, and RSS feeds; the Alerts tool informs fact-checkers of repeat instances of previously fact-checked false information, allowing them to act quickly and insert accurate information into public discourse; and the Real-Time tool offers an instant transcription of election debates, interviews, and town halls, eliminating the need for manual transcription and providing a record of fact-checkable claims.
Kemi Busari, editor of Dubawa, said, “Full Fact AI has been very helpful in the lead-up to the 2023 elections in Nigeria. I use the tools searching for claims and even identifying persistent spreaders of falsehood. These tools, combined, would further help us as fact-checkers to hold politicians accountable and help people access accurate information about the election.”
David Ajikobi, Nigerian editor at Africa check, said, “Full Fact’s AI Tools, which Africa Check helped develop, allow the coalition to monitor news websites, social media pages, and transcribe live TV or radio to find claims to fact-check. This has boosted the coalition’s
