The Conversation: Nigerian elections are crowded with candidates: use this new tool to decide who to vote for in your area. “The tool, called My Candidate Nigeria, is an initiative that falls under the Africa Data Hub. Its aim is to inform voters and strengthen democracy. The tool helps voters in Nigeria identify candidates for the elections based on their location address.” I tried this and I really liked it except for the “Candidate Biography” link, which leads to an unrestrained Google search. This would have been an excellent application for a Google CSE with a specific set of domains to search.
Tag Archives: Nigeria
The Guardian (Nigeria): How presidential candidates pay influencers to peddle fake news on social media, by CDD report
The Guardian (Nigeria): How presidential candidates pay influencers to peddle fake news on social media, by CDD report. “The 10-page report, titled ‘Online operations: Nigeria’s 2023 social media election campaigns’ chronicles the challenge of misinformation, mal-information and disinformation, which it said have dominated social media platforms as the country counts down to the polls.”
Reuters: Nigeria asks social media giants to curb fake news ahead of election
Reuters: Nigeria asks social media giants to curb fake news ahead of election. “Nigeria has asked Google and Meta to control the spread of fake news on their platforms ahead of a presidential election this month, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Friday. Nigerians go to the polls on Feb. 25 to elect a new president, with three frontrunners promising to deal with the rising cost of living, insecurity and a slow-growing economy.”
Nigeria elections 2023: How influencers are secretly paid by political parties (BBC)
BBC: Nigeria elections 2023: How influencers are secretly paid by political parties. “A BBC investigation has discovered that political parties in Nigeria are secretly paying social media influencers to spread disinformation about their opponents ahead of general elections in February.”
Leadership (Nigeria): Google Debuts Nigeria 2023 Elections Trends Hub
Leadership (Nigeria): Google Debuts Nigeria 2023 Elections Trends Hub. “In support of the upcoming 2023 Presidential elections, Google has unveiled a new portal, the Nigeria Elections Trends Hub, that will provide a platform for Nigerians to search and discover trending interests related to the presidential and vice presidential candidates, parties, and issues through the lens of Google Trends.” I am very interested in this election for two reasons: 1) Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and has grown tremendously over the last several decades, and b) This election is occurring in the midst of serious Silicon Valley turmoil. Content moderation has never been anywhere close to perfect in Africa and I’m concerned social media will seriously disrupt the Nigerian election cycle.
AFP: Deepfake video used to falsely claim Donald Trump endorsed Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi
AFP: Deepfake video used to falsely claim Donald Trump endorsed Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi. “A video viewed thousands of times on TikTok appears to show former US leader Donald Trump endorsing Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the country’s general elections in February. However, AFP Fact Check found the clip was digitally altered.”
2023 elections: Group trains 108 fact checkers to curb fake news (Daily Post)
Daily Post (Nigeria): 2023 elections: Group trains 108 fact checkers to curb fake news. “Food Basket Foundation International, FBFI, has said that it has concluded plans to train and deploy no fewer than 108 fact checkers ahead of the 2023 general elections. FBFI noted that the decision was taken to curb the menace of misinformation and disinformation before, during and after the elections.”
Premium Times: In Nigeria, responsible journalism risks being drowned by disinformation -Babcock University VC
Premium Times (Nigeria): In Nigeria, responsible journalism risks being drowned by disinformation -Babcock University VC. “The President/Vice-Chancellor of Babcock University (BU), Ilishan-Remo, Ademola Tayo, has urged global media practitioners and particularly in Nigeria to save the profession from being ‘drowned by the cacophony of disinformation.'”
The Art Newspaper: Cologne museum to transfer 92-strong Benin bronze collection back to Nigeria
The Art Newspaper: Cologne museum to transfer 92-strong Benin bronze collection back to Nigeria. “The Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, an ethnological museum that opened in 1906, says it will transfer ownership of 92 works; three items will be returned this month with 52 objects to be transferred from next year. The remainder will remain on long-term loan to the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum in line with other restitution agreements.”
TechCrunch: Google clamps down on illegal loan apps in Kenya, Nigeria
TechCrunch: Google clamps down on illegal loan apps in Kenya, Nigeria. “Google is requiring loan apps in Kenya to submit proof of license to operate in the country, failure to which they risk removal from Play Store, its digital distribution service. Those that have applied for licensing by Central Bank of Kenya, and can produce evidence of the same, may also be spared.”
Poynter: How fact-checkers are banding together to serve Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country
Poynter: How fact-checkers are banding together to serve Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country. “With more than 200 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa by a wide margin. But given the relatively few fact-checking organizations in the country, the ratio of fact-checkers to the overall population is comparably tiny. Setting out to reverse this trend, a group of African fact-checking organizations is banding together in a coalition to maximize its impact in the country ahead of the 2023 election season.”
BBC: Horniman Museum to return 72 artefacts to Nigeria
BBC: Horniman Museum to return 72 artefacts to Nigeria. “A London museum says it has agreed to return to Nigeria artefacts looted in the 19th Century from the Kingdom of Benin. The Horniman Museum said ownership of 72 objects would be transferred to the Nigerian government. Items include 12 brass plaques, known as Benin Bronzes, a brass cockerel and a key to the king’s palace.”
Reuters: Nigeria asks Google to block banned groups from YouTube
Reuters: Nigeria asks Google to block banned groups from YouTube. “Nigeria asked Google to block the use of YouTube channels and livestreams by banned groups and terrorist organizations in the country, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Thursday.”
Rest of World: “Hostage-taking laws” seem to be fueling a Twitter crackdown in India
Rest of World: “Hostage-taking laws” seem to be fueling a Twitter crackdown in India. “Increasingly popular around the world, ‘hostage-taking laws,’ are government mandates that require social media companies to have physical offices and employees in the countries where they operate. In addition to India, these laws have been put in place in Nigeria, Turkey, and Vietnam. Observers say that Twitter’s recent takedowns in India highlight how governments leverage these laws and create a regulatory environment with higher-stakes penalties, which makes it easier to demand companies to censor the speech of journalists and dissidents.”
UNESCO: UNESCO welcomes the signing of a historic agreement between Germany and Nigeria for the return of 1,130 Benin bronzes
UNESCO: UNESCO welcomes the signing of a historic agreement between Germany and Nigeria for the return of 1,130 Benin bronzes . “The declaration goes beyond a mere restitution and provides for ambitious cultural cooperation. Under the terms of the declaration, Germany is expected to participate in archaeological exploration work, provide training for Nigerian museum staff, help build a new museum in Benin and return looted Benin Bronzes from German museum collections, while promoting international travelling and joint exhibitions.”