Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has opened up about how the scourge of fake news on social media nearly jeopardized his four-decade-long marriage. Speaking at an event in Lagos commemorating Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka's 90th birthday, Mohammed shed light on the challenges he faced during his tenure, particularly the proliferation of misinformation.
Recounting a personal incident, Mohammed revealed that his wife woke him up in the middle of the night to discuss a serious matter related to social media. She had been confronted with allegations circulating online, accusing government functionaries of stashing away billions of dollars in overseas accounts. Despite Mohammed's efforts to debunk the false claims, his wife remained unconvinced, as the misinformation had already spread widely on social media, tarnishing her reputation among friends.
The former minister spent hours presenting budget documents and calculations to disprove the allegations, but the damage had been done. His wife's friends believed the false narrative, leading to strained relationships and unwarranted requests. Mohammed lamented the profound impact of fake news on personal relationships and emphasized its broader societal implications, including its role in undermining democratic processes and public trust.
During his time in government, Mohammed's ministry identified numerous online publications dedicated to spreading fake news against the administration. He highlighted the growing sophistication of fake news, fueled by technologies like Artificial Intelligence, which generate convincing but false content.
In light of these challenges, Mohammed called for robust regulatory measures to curb the spread of misinformation while safeguarding freedom of expression. He reiterated the need for social media regulation, citing the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria in response to the platform's alleged role in threatening national stability.
Mohammed's personal experience underscores the urgent need to address the menace of fake news and its damaging repercussions on individuals and society as a whole.
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