Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation: Algeria’s Strategic Tools Against Fake News, Defamation Campaigns
✏️ Translated by: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | July 29th, 2024 — In the contemporary digital age, social media platforms are both integral to and influential within the news ecosystem. Unfortunately, they also serve as fertile grounds for the proliferation of rumors and misinformation, placing considerable pressure on Algerian journalists to maintain the integrity of their reporting. The rapid dissemination of content and the fast-paced interactions of users underscore the need for rigorous verification of information, including images and videos, to combat misleading news effectively.
In response to these challenges, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a vital asset in the fight against fake news. AI-powered tools facilitate large-scale data analysis, which enhances the ability to identify and combat false information. In Algeria, the integration of digital transformation and AI represents a significant opportunity to strengthen media capabilities in addressing disinformation. This technological advancement not only boosts journalistic credibility but also ensures the delivery of accurate and reliable information in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.
1- Social Media: A Platform for Malicious Propaganda
Algeria is currently grappling with a persistent digital campaign designed to sow discord and instability, characterized by over 90 websites dedicated to the dissemination of falsehoods and rumors. This malicious network, orchestrated by neighboring countries, aims to undermine Algeria’s stability and security.
In response to this challenge, the Algerian government is harnessing advanced technologies to bolster information security and safeguard the truth. Concurrently, journalists in the private sector are actively engaged in countering these misinformation campaigns, striving to unearth the truth and uphold media integrity.
As Algeria navigates these technological advancements, social media has emerged as a critical battleground. Adversaries of Algeria have propagated numerous fabrications, including a recent case where a video aired by Algerian public television showing a convoy transporting wheat in the Algerian Sahara was falsely claimed to be a fabricated AI creation. This prompted Algerian media and specialized platforms to debunk the erroneous claims and counter the deceptive narratives of its adversaries.
Frances Haugen, a former executive at Facebook, has highlighted the company’s propensity to overlook content that incites hatred and division. Haugen’s revelations suggest that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp have allowed misleading and racist posts to proliferate, prioritizing user engagement and profit over effective content moderation.
These insights are well understood by those intent on destabilizing Algeria. They exploit social media platforms directly and through sophisticated techniques that are challenging for the average user to detect or verify. Foreign entities create numerous pages that appear to be Algerian, disseminating targeted content to the Algerian public. Additionally, ostensibly neutral pages deliberately propagate misleading information to damage Algeria’s reputation.
Recent statistics indicate that approximately 25 million Algerians can be reached through sponsored posts on Facebook, nearly matching the country’s total number of internet users, which was 26.35 million as of February 2021. Furthermore, the average user maintains accounts across more than six different social media platforms, with a significant portion of internet users engaging exclusively through social media and often bypassing reputable news sources. This makes them particularly vulnerable to the spread of rumors and disinformation.
In conclusion, social media has become a new arena of conflict, manipulated by adversarial entities to spread malicious propaganda. These actors aim to create confusion and destabilize the public with false information. Addressing this issue demands heightened vigilance and collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to protect societal stability. In this context, combating fake news and reinforcing reliable information sources is more crucial than ever.
2- Algerian Digital Newspapers: The Frontline Defense Against Fake News
In Algeria, digital journalism has emerged as a crucial frontline defense against misinformation, becoming an essential component of the media landscape. Although the country started delving into digital journalism in 2012, formal regulations were only introduced later with Decree No. 20-332 in 2020. These regulations were implemented as a strategic response to combat the surge of fake news campaigns that were undermining Algerian interests and affecting its citizens.
One prominent example in this arena is Dzair Tube, which has established itself as a key player in defending Algeria’s values and interests against false news. As Algeria’s pioneering electronic news channel, Dzair Tube has gained considerable recognition, including prestigious accolades, such as the President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalists and the Media Excellence Certificate from the Ministry of Communication. With a substantial following of over 7 million, Dzair Tube stands as a primary bulwark against malicious propaganda, attracting thousands of visits daily across three languages.
Maamar Gani, the channel’s owner and director, notes that digital newspapers and websites can profoundly influence the media landscape by delivering content that is both aesthetically and artistically diverse through various digital formats. This approach is critical for capturing readers’ attention and countering the manipulative tactics employed by some foreign sites. Gani emphasizes the importance of a robust social media presence, rigorous news verification processes, and the production of engaging and interactive content, including videos, infographics, and multimedia graphics.
Dzair Tube and similar digital platforms rely on credible news sources, including official statements from the presidency, the office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of National Defense, and other government ministries, as well as interviews and press conferences with officials and reports from the Algerian News Agency. This reliance on reputable sources enhances the site’s credibility and reinforces its role as a trusted media institution. Dzair Tube has set a benchmark for accredited digital sites in Algeria, many of which also endeavor to debunk rumors and misinformation.
Today, digital newspapers in Algeria are integral to the fight against fake news. They play a pivotal role in raising public awareness by providing reliable information and engaging, interactive content, thereby contributing significantly to the preservation of media integrity and the safeguarding of public discourse.
3- Pioneering Efforts to Combat Misinformation in a Digital Age
In response to the rising tide of fabricated and misleading information permeating social media platforms, Algeria has witnessed a significant surge in efforts by journalists dedicated to addressing this challenge. A number of specialized platforms have emerged, spearheaded by committed professionals striving to uphold journalistic integrity amidst a proliferation of misinformation.
We spoke with Walid Kouini, the Director of the “Electronic Rumors Combat Authority” and the founder of “Algeria Check,” which was established in 2019. Kouini emphasized the platform’s timely inception, coinciding with widespread public protests marked by an increase in fake news and hate speech. His team is actively engaged in monitoring social media pages that propagate rumors, employing advanced verification tools to distinguish between authentic and false content, and disseminating accurate information to counteract misinformation. Despite these efforts, Kouini underscored the necessity for greater support to evolve these initiatives into more robust and independent institutions. The “Algeria Check” platform has also forged partnerships with Arab and international fact-checking organizations to enhance its verification processes and promote transparency. This includes regional collaborations that have united Arab fact-checkers to address misinformation related to Gaza.
In a similar vein, Aimane Barhil, a graduate from the Faculty of Media and Communication Sciences at Mohamed Lamine Debaghine University in Sétif, discussed his project “Taqassi.” Barhil explained that the platform was developed in response to the escalating demand for reliable news verification tools amid the surge of fake news. “Taqassi” offers a service enabling users to verify the accuracy of news items circulating on social media. The platform has plans to expand its services to include the verification of doctored images and videos and to develop additional tools aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring the dissemination of trustworthy information.
As elucidated by Kouini and Barhil, these initiatives represent a leading edge in Algeria’s ongoing battle against fake news. They are dedicated to providing credible information and fostering trust in the media, working diligently to mitigate the effects of misleading content and uphold the integrity of public discourse.
4- Training Algerian Journalists in Fake News Combat Techniques
In 2024, the field of journalism is confronted with unparalleled complexity, largely driven by the digital landscape’s challenges and the growing urgency for precise information validation. Walid Kouini, Director of the “Electronic Rumors Combat Authority,” underscored the pivotal role that training plays in navigating this intricate environment.
Kouini pointed out that the training programs initiated in late 2020 by the Ministries of Postal Services and Communication, in collaboration with Google, represented a significant advancement. These sessions, which benefitted a substantial number of Algerian journalists, were focused on providing participants with advanced digital tools and methodologies for detecting misinformation.
He further highlighted that these training sessions were not limited to journalists alone but extended to the broader media ecosystem. Among the notable initiatives was a training program held at the Strategic Studies Center in Algiers, where journalists received comprehensive instruction on how to verify information and discern false news.
Furthermore, Zéroual Bakir, a journalist from Dzair Tube, had the opportunity to attend a 2024 training organized by the Ministry of Communication. This session addressed contemporary strategies for combating fake news. Trainer Samia Aich emphasized that while such training is essential, it is not a panacea; journalists must also maintain high standards of professionalism and remain vigilant to effectively counter misinformation.
Kouini’s team remains dedicated to organizing additional training sessions aimed at equipping journalists and media organizations with the requisite skills to tackle emerging challenges within the media sector. These ongoing initiatives are vital for ensuring that journalists are adept at managing the complexities of modern news reporting and preserving the integrity of their work in the face of evolving digital threats.
5- Artificial Intelligence in Algeria: A Necessity for Verifying Fake News
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has broadened its scope to include a range of applications, with information verification emerging as a particularly vital area. As the spread of fake news and media manipulation through advanced technologies intensifies, the integration of AI-based tools for precise information verification has become essential. We spoke with Walid Kouini, founder of Algeria’s leading news verification platform, about the pivotal role of AI in this field and the challenges media organizations face in adopting these technologies.
Kouini underscored the critical need for AI in information verification, highlighting that the escalating sophistication of fake news technologies has made it increasingly challenging to differentiate between genuine and manipulated content. The advanced techniques now used to alter images and videos have further complicated the task of verifying media authenticity. Globally, leading news agencies have adopted state-of-the-art AI technologies for verification purposes, despite their considerable expense. Such technologies are utilized by media organizations across both Western and Arab countries. Kouini’s team is actively involved in workshops and training sessions aimed at mastering these technologies, with the goal of enhancing their professional application in the future.
In response to the proliferation of false and misleading news on social media, Aimane Barhil, a graduate of the Faculty of Media and Communication Sciences at Mohamed Lamine Debaghine University in Sétif, has introduced the “Taqassi” platform. The concept for this platform emerged from discussions with his colleague and thesis supervisor, who recognized the substantial threat posed by fake news to societal information integrity. Barhil noted, “The widespread occurrence of fake and misleading news highlighted the pressing need for an effective tool to verify the accuracy of information, which led to the creation of the ‘Taqassi’ platform.”
According to Barhil, the “Taqassi” platform signifies a major advancement in the Arab world, being the first to employ artificial intelligence for news verification. The platform is designed to evaluate significant news items circulating on social media, assessing whether the information is accurate, false, or misleading. Users can input news items for verification, and the platform swiftly provides a detailed evaluation of their authenticity. “Taqassi” features several key components, including AI-driven tools, diverse journalistic templates, and various types of news, along with articles aimed at improving service quality. It also offers a collection of previously verified news to help users identify and understand widespread misinformation.
Barhil’s team is working to expand the platform’s capabilities to include the verification of fabricated images and videos while continuing to utilize AI technologies. Plans for the future include establishing social media pages and creating short videos tailored to contemporary platforms, positioning “Taqassi” as a leading authority in information verification within the Arab world. The deployment of AI technologies for information verification is crucial in Algeria’s battle against fake news and underscores the necessity for collaborative efforts among various media stakeholders to promote a more accurate and trustworthy media landscape.
The ongoing digital transformation and advancements in AI in Algeria are central to addressing current challenges and combating misinformation while fostering sustainable development. Despite obstacles related to infrastructure and training, innovative initiatives like “Algeria Check” and “Taqassi,” along with focused journalist training, demonstrate the promising potential of these technologies. Through strategic investment in technology and collaborative efforts, Algeria is poised to advance towards a more enlightened and progressive future.
The Arabic Version:
About Dzair Tube Media Group
Dzair Tube has firmly positioned itself as a leading force in Algerian digital journalism, delivering a rich and diverse array of content. Available in Arabic, French, and English, Dzair Tube captivates a broad audience, drawing over half a million daily clicks.
The platform’s excellence was notably recognized with the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This accolade underscores Dzair Tube’s steadfast commitment to the highest journalistic standards.
Dzair Tube’s substantial online footprint includes 350,000 YouTube subscribers, over six million followers across various Facebook pages, and 450,000 Instagram followers. The digital channel serves as a nexus for a wide range of programming, spanning news, sports, entertainment, culture, and religion, catering to a diverse audience.
Boasting cutting-edge studios and advanced technology, Dzair Tube’s digital channel has attracted a significant viewership with its varied programs. It facilitates interactive discussions with key figures from various sectors, promoting public discourse and engagement. Beyond news, Dzair Tube excels in producing marketing documentaries, short TV commercials, and high-viewership shows.
The print edition of Dzair Tube’s sports newspaper, “Dzair Sport,” further attests to the platform’s influence, with over 50,000 daily downloads from the official Dzair Tube website.
Awarded the Media Leadership Award by the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the Algerian digital media landscape, maintaining its position of influence and impact. Additionally, Dzair Tube’s prominence in Algeria’s media scene was celebrated at the ninth edition of the “Hilals of the Television” competition, solidifying its status as a media leader.
Stay Connected with Dzair Tube
Stay informed with the latest news, programs, and updates from Dzair Tube. Visit www.dzair-tube.dz, and for the English version, go to www.dzair-tube.dz/en/. Join Dzair Tube’s dynamic community on social media platforms.
