Lagos: UN Urges Media and Global Partners to Defend Information Integrity Against Misinformation and AI Threats
Sherri Aldis, Director of the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) for Western Europe, made the call during a UN Information Integrity Workshop for African journalists on Wednesday.
Aldis, who oversees UN communications across 22 Western European countries, said that African journalists face challenges similar to those experienced by their colleagues worldwide.
She commended African media professionals for working with the UN to promote factual, transparent, and responsible journalism, describing it as vital to democracy and human rights.
“The threats to our information ecosystem are expanding rapidly, especially with the rise of AI. This is a global challenge that knows no borders,” she said.
She warned that crises such as elections, conflicts, and climate-related emergencies often provide fertile ground for misinformation and manipulation by malicious actors.
According to her, journalists working in such conditions face serious risks, including harassment, surveillance, arbitrary detention, and intimidation by armed groups or government authorities.
Aldis also highlighted the financial fragility of independent and public media, noting that dwindling resources and digital migration have weakened newsroom independence and journalistic credibility.
Citing data from Reporters Without Borders, she stated that more than half of the world’s population resides in countries facing dire press freedom situations.
She linked the decline in media freedom to ownership concentration, economic fragility, and advertiser dependence, all of which undermine editorial independence and the resilience of newsrooms.
Aldis identified other systemic challenges, including fragmented responses to coordinated misinformation campaigns and weak collaboration between sectors combating disinformation.
“Malicious actors coordinate both online and offline, exploiting moments of high vulnerability such as elections and conflict situations to spread false information,” she said.
She said information defenders must match such coordination with unity and vigilance to protect the integrity of public information spaces globally.
“We are all information defenders. Academics, climate activists, and independent voices are being silenced through harassment and intimidation,” she added.
Aldis warned against fabricated consensus and astroturfing, where false narratives simulate public opinion, distorting policy outcomes and misleading media decision-making.
Turning to AI, she described the opacity and scale of emerging technologies as serious risks that could erode trust, diversity, and pluralism in public communication.
She noted that the risks are particularly severe in regions struggling with digital divides and unequal access to technology, making media literacy even more crucial.
Aldis reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to promoting information integrity through research, policy engagement, and advocacy across its global communication network.
“Information risks undermine peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development — the three foundational pillars of the United Nations,” Aldis said.