2023 Election: Rise Networks Launched App To Combat Fake News
On Saturday, the Rise Networks, a Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Company, launched the “Run-Am” mobile app to verify fake news and tackle the spread of misinformation during the election period and after.
Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder, Rise Networks, announced the platform, In Abuja.
She further explained that the app can be accessed on Google Play Store.
“is a tool that will ensure efficiency and…” She said.
Statement from Mrs Toyosi Akerele confirmed to Excelbreakingnews that the app project had the support of the MacArthur Foundation and the Center for Information, Technology and Development (CITAD).
According to her statement, the app has lot of features that will encourage good participation in the coming election and after.
She listed that it has the ability to verify news, image and also can help in educating voter to check misinformation which tends to instigate violence during elections.
“During elections, fake news is used to create a lot of voter apathy, so you see a lot of news like 50 people have been killed in a particular local government.
“And because of that, people who have their PVCs will not want to come out to vote because they are afraid.
“But when you find out, you will see that that information is not true but when voters do not turn up, that is when it will be easy for them to rig the elections.
“And those are the kind of problems the Run-Am App intend to solve,” she said.
She added that the organisation was working to ensure that the App is run in our local languages and pidgin English, for easy accessibility of all Nigerians.
The Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Victor Aluko, also took his time to appreciate the company for its initiative which focuses on preventing and eradicating misinformation, fake news and others. Which according to him may undermine the electoral processes in the country.
“We are going into a serious elections which will be contested by powerful individuals and political parties and you will see a situation where the electoral process will be pulled in various directions.
“When we have that, you will see a lot of combination of fake news, misinformation and disinformation and we are looking at how we can manage our results to make sure that people don’t misinform Nigerians.
“So when we have this type of App, from reputable organisations like this, we tend to identify with them and express our happiness that this is coming from a Nigerian organisation,” he said.
On this occasion, Mr Dayo Olaide, Deputy Country Director, MacArthur Foundation Africa Office, added the consequence of misinformation as global threat to democracy.
He encouraged that, Nigerian should put total attention to accountability in electoral system, as one which can further save the country from inflammatory statement and fake news.
“As we launch the App today, we will need our citizens that to go beyond exposing those misinformation but begin to demand that those who are driving this type of attack against our democracy are brought to book.
“That responsibility is not only that of INEC, it is a shared responsibility, the government, citizens and also the media must hold all actors accountable for their actions,” he added.
