We are excited to invite you to apply for the second cohort of the Africa Fact-Checking Fellowship – Ethiopia (AFF-ETH), an initiative under #defyhatenow Ethiopia, funded by the European Union. This groundbreaking Fellowship aims to empower individuals to effectively counter online hate speech, incitement to violence, and the spread of disinformation/misinformation.

This program is designed to deliver three distinct fellowships across different regions of Ethiopia. The first fellowship was successfully completed in Oromia, featuring a blend of online and in-person training sessions. This second three-month cohort will focus specifically on participants residing in the Tigray region.

This second three-month cohort specifically focuses on participants residing in the Tigray region.

Eligibility Criteria

• Digital Literacy: Basic computer skills and regular internet access via smartphone, personal computer, or both.
• Social Media Presence: Active on at least two social media platforms.
• Language Proficiency: Fluent in English and Tigrinya.
• Residency: Must be currently based in Tigray Region.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience and expertise in at least one of the following areas: media, peacebuilding, civic engagement, or conflict resolution.

Kindly complete this form to apply for this valuable opportunity.

Six years on and one year away from the next elections in Cameroon, the relatively intact capacity for nuisance of accounts and/or pages stimulating tribal rivalries through the propagation of false information, the influence of purposely created fake news shadow cabinets, the traces and impact of online disinformation campaigns remain indelible and continue to weigh on the current national media landscape. To address this threat to peace, a number of local and regional initiatives have been launched, including the Africa Factchecking Fellowship and the 237 Check open platform run by #defyhatenow / Civic Watch Cameroon, which to date has equipped over 220 media professionals and community leaders in information verification techniques and methods. Over the past few years, these initiatives, led mainly by civil society and some media actors, have succeeded in raising public awareness and sounding the alarm about the dangers of false information. However, with just a few months to go before the upcoming elections, fears of a resurgence of disinformation and propaganda campaigns remain strong, especially given the information dynamics currently taking place on social media and in the press in relation to public governance, socio-political and even football issues.

Understanding the relationship between elections and disinformation 

Elections constitute an important moment in a process of democratization in Africa. It’s the indicated means of ensuring the orderly process of leadership succession and change and an instrument of political authority and legitimation. The failure of having credible elections or their absence is considered as a symbol of political dictatorships and personalized rule by the international community. Electoral process is the longest moment of the electoral cycle and it can be divided into three key phases: pre-voting, voting, and post-voting. Credible and transparent media coverage is crucial to ensuring greater citizen participation, strengthening social cohesion and promoting democracy.

The treatment and quality of information provided by the media is therefore particularly important at this time, as it could have a decisive impact on the outcome of the election, the turnout and, above all, the consolidation of peace. Nevertheless, in today’s digital age, disinformation appears to threaten the integrity of elections.

In Cameroon, as in most other African countries, misinformation or false rumours (the term ‘false rumours’ is more commonly used in sub-Saharan African legislation to describe fake news) are spreading rapidly thanks to widespread access to digital platforms such as WhatsApp, which is used more for private exchanges. The electoral experience of Gambia in 2021 and Nigeria in 2019 illustrates the role that WhatsApp can play in amplifying the proliferation of false information influencing the voting process and citizen participation.

On the other hand, the traditional and complex word-of-mouth information ecosystem sometimes perpetuates prejudices and false narratives developed in a context where Internet access does not reach 50% of the population. In such an environment, false information spreads rapidly, fuelling violence and political tensions because local communities have very few means of checking the data or content they receive.

In addition, socio-economic inequalities and exacerbated ethnic tensions, which are reinforced by biases and regularly used by politicians to manipulate the masses, also constitute a vector for disinformation. This observation is corroborated by the analysis of Anuragini Shirish and Kanika Kotwal revealing that a higher level of economic development of people in a State curbed its fake news propensity. In Africa instead, political actors work to construct ethnic enemies by maliciously exploiting weaknesses in information systems, hate speech and the fabrication of imaginary stories aimed at mobilising popular support for their personal interests during elections. In other words, repeated exposure to fake news and conspiracy theories help fuel hate speech, social polarization and violent extremism (Hassan et al. 2019). This has the effect of dividing communities, most of whose members do not always have the critical ability to properly analyse the truth from the false, or to identify the real causes of the social, political and economic problems they face, or to help formulate and monitor effective responses as it’s explained by Steven Livingston.Also the cases of Kenya’s elections in 2022 and Nigeria’s elections in 2023 prove that local politicians are increasingly using disinformation as a strategy to acquire popular supports.

 So, to avoid a repeat of catastrophic experiences in other countries and given that socio-political stability and the promotion of peaceful coexistence depend to a large extent on the establishment of a credible national information system made up of dynamic agents capable of producing and disseminating good information in a timely manner while respecting human rights, the 10th cohort of the #AFFCameroon program is one of #defyhatenow’s leverages for strengthening the capacities of mainstream and digital media, improving access to good information and developing intra-societal and community communication.

Perspectives for cohort 10 #AFFCameroon

The main objective of this 10th cohort is to improve understanding of the phenomenon of disinformation in real time, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence, in order to develop strategies to prevent people from adhering to conspiracy theories by defusing election-related fake news. To ensure that the conduct of elections poses no threat to peace, it is important that citizens have sufficient access to reliable information. For the coordinator of the Africa Factchecking Fellowship, Donald Tchiengue, the #AFFCameroon fellows must be upstream and downstream of the circulation of good information, helping to shape democratic debate and public opinion by preventing and mitigating fake news while producing verifiable and verified information. 

As peacekeepers, these media professionals (journalists and bloggers) and community leaders must give themselves a mandate to track down and denounce any attempt to influence or manipulate the masses online and offline. To this end, during their training they will be trained and equipped to:

• Verify claims made by politicians and media outlets, ensuring that information disseminated to the public is accurate and reliable. Through investigative content and factchecking articles to be publish on www.237check.org they should debunk disinformation campaigns and tactics employed to manipulate public opinion
• Educating the public through meetups on how to identify and discern misinformation, equipping individuals with the necessary tools to navigate the complex landscape of information 
• Promoting media and information literacy by promoting in-depth analysis to voters for them to have the necessary insights to make informed decisions.
• Contribute to the establishment of a monitoring and fact-checking unit in their media’s organization in other to be trusted sources of information. The purpose is the level of transparency about their sourcing and reporting processes, fostering trust and credibility among their audience.

In an era where the lines between fact and fiction can often blur, this contribution of #defyhatenow with the factchecking program #AFFCameroon is to promote democracy and transparency for the vital need of peace and social cohesion for a #HateFreeCameroon.

CONTEXTE

Le 15 février 2023, paraissait au grand public l’enquête « stories killers » du consortium Forbidden Stories qui met en lumière les actions d’une société israélienne clandestine spécialisée dans l’influence sur les réseaux sociaux et qui aurait manipulé des dizaines d’élections, notamment en Afrique. Grâce au travail de plusieurs journalistes pendant plusieurs années, le monde découvre donc le mode opératoire de la «Team Jorge » ayant conduit plus d’une vingtaine d’opérations de désinformation au profit d’États, d’hommes politiques, d’entreprises ou de riches bénéficiaires de plusieurs pays africains. Spécialisée dans la désinformation, le cyber-espionnage et la propagation de récits fabriqués de toutes pièces, Team Jorge a longtemps travaillé à la création de faux comptes sur les réseaux sociaux, la fabrication de faux documents, des opérations marketing pour redorer l’image écornée d’un dirigeant ou d’une entreprise. Elle offre aussi de mener des campagnes d’influence de grande ampleur, des deep fakes personnalisés ou le placement d’articles via le recrutement de journalistes qui influencent grandement le déroulement des élections.

Ainsi, le Nigeria en 2015 et le Kenya en 2017 ont été des cibles de Cambridge Analytica, la société britannique de conseil politique qui a tenté d’influencer les élections générales via Facebook, Twitter et WhatsApp. Dans un contexte fragile où l’accès au numérique se développe en Afrique et l’utilisation d’internet est de plus en plus dynamique au Cameroun avec la vulgarisation de l’utilisation de l’IA et l’avènement des réseaux sociaux d’influence tels que Tik Tok, les élections présidentielles prévues pour 2025 apparaissent être une potentielle menace à la construction de la paix et la restauration de la stabilité sociale.

L’expérience de la crise sociopolitique de 2018 justifie les craintes. En effet, lors des élections présidentielles, les internautes ont été inondés par des flux de fake news et de discours haineux qui ont polarisé davantage les clivages sociaux et exacerbé les tensions sociopolitiques et tribales. Pour éviter que la désinformation et les campagnes d’influence puissent influencer le débat public et la cohésion sociale, #defyhatenow via son programme Africa Fact-checking Fellowship” (#AFFCameroon) organise la 2^e édition de la conférence All #AFFCameroon pour mobiliser toutes les parties prenantes pour œuvrer pour la stabilité sociopolitique, la bonne gouvernance, la démocratie et la paix au Cameroun durant la période pré-électorale, électorale et post-électorale. Cette conférence se veut donc être un point de départ pour une série d’activités qui seront menées en prélude aux élections au Cameroun en 2025 dont le but est de proposer des réponses préventives et réactives plus efficaces que d’autres afin d’orienter les efforts futurs pour la protection de l’intégrité électorale et la prévention de la violence électorale.

JUSTIFICATION

Africa Fact-checking Fellowship (#AFFCameroon) vise à promouvoir la vérification des faits, le journalisme de données et les droits numériques aux journalistes, blogueurs et créateurs de contenu en Afrique. Cette initiative apparaît dans un environnement marqué par une prolifération de propos mensongers, de fabrication de l’information, des photos, des vidéos, le deepfake, le partage de trolls, la création de faux comptes, l’arnaque en ligne, les discours calomniateurs, de haine et dangereux sur les réseaux sociaux à l’intention des individus et/ou des communautés inter-ethniques.

A ce jour, plus de 150 personnes résidant dans diverses régions du Cameroun ont reçu un accompagnement technique, pédagogique et fonctionnel pour la vérification avancée de l’information. L’objectif est de créer une masse critique de vérificateurs de faits, des combattants de l’information, de discours de haine en ligne et hors ligne, et de défenseurs des droits numériques.

Pour que le travail de ces professionnels de l’information ait un plus grand impact sur la paix, il importe donc d’une part de mutualiser les efforts de différents acteurs de la société; d’autre part de promouvoir les pratiques de vérification de l’information et l’éducation aux médias et l’information à une plus large audience (notamment aux sein des organisations et institutions publiques et privées) dans le but d’accroître pour une meilleure gouvernance et pour restaurer la confiance sociale. La lutte contre la désinformation est aujourd’hui un enjeu de promotion et de préservation de la liberté de la presse et d’expression, de la promotion de la démocratie et de la bonne gouvernance axée sur la Gouvernance ouverte, de la promotion de l’utilisation responsable des TIC pour un développement harmonieux et durable.

OBJECTIF PRINCIPAL :

Tirer les leçons des expériences passées liées aux menaces numériques notamment la désinformation et les discours haineux qui pèsent sur les élections en Afrique et au Cameroun, afin d’élaborer des orientations stratégiques fondées sur des données probantes sur la manière de réagir plus efficacement lors des prochaines élections.

OBJECTIFS SECONDAIRES

1. Réunir tous les boursiers des différentes cohortes de #AFFCameroon pour définir des nouvelles perspectives d’action et de coordination dans la lutte contre la désinformation de manière significative en collaborant avec les institutions publiques et privées.
2. Sensibiliser et engager davantage les pouvoirs publics, les organisations et les entreprises dans la lutte contre la désinformation.
3. Initier un plan d’action pour une réponse coordonnée contre la désinformation permettant de définir des ripostes conjointes entre les différentes parties prenantes.
4. Partager de nouvelles idées et pratiques permettant de faire progresser le fact-checking au Cameroun et en Afrique pour mieux combattre la désinformation et les discours haineux en ligne en période électorale.
5. Réduire le décalage entre les perceptions et la réalité observée sur le terrain et les enjeux de la désinformation sur la paix.
6. Promouvoir l’éducation aux médias et à l’information

DATE

La « ALL AFFCameroon Conférence » se tiendra du 27 & 28 Mars 2024 à l’Hôtel Djeuja Palace à Yaoundé

STRUCTURE

La « ALL AFFCameroon Conférence » s’articulera en différentes sessions : tables rondes en plénières, et des présentations.

 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDUS

• Institutions publiques et privées notamment ELECAM, le Sénat, l’Assemblée nationale et les représentations communales et religieuses.
• Les parties politiques
• Missions diplomatiques et chancelleries internationales
• Organisations internationales et régionales
• Organisations de la Société civile
• Professionnels et Associations de Médias main Stream et en ligne
• Les représentants de la Diaspora
• Les représentants des plateformes numériques.
• Boursiers #AFFCameroon

 RESULTATS ATTENDUS

• L’existence d’une synergie d’actions de tous les boursiers de #AFFCameroon
• La collaboration des organisations/institutions et les boursiers #AFFCameroon pour lutter contre la désinformation – mésinformation (l’intégration des boursiers dans les cellules de communication)
• La création d’une plateforme d’échange et de collaboration entre ELECAM, les parties politiques, les médias et les fact-checkers.
• L’ouverture des cellules de lutte contre la désinformation au sein des organisations/institutions invitées.
• la participation d’environ 300 acteurs concernés de près ou de loin aux questions de désinformation et de discours de haine
• La réalisation d’un plaidoyer auprès des autorités publiques pour lutter mieux contre la désinformation et pour favoriser un plus grand accès à l’information

THEMATIQUES

• Communication de crise et désinformation dans les médias
• Elections, médias et partis politiques
• Campagnes de communication vs campagne d’influence 
• Elections, bonne gouvernance et information
• Acteurs communautaires, réseaux sociaux et cohésion sociale
• Réseaux sociaux, influence et discours haineux
• Diaspora, désinformation et stabilité politique
• Désinformation et dialogue intercommunautaire et religieux
• Education aux médias et à l’information et élections
• La contribution des plateformes numériques durant les élections en Afrique.
• Stratégie de lutte contre la désinformation : La place de l’histoire, de la culture et des religions.
• Financements et soutiens aux initiatives locales de fact-checking

PLAN DE COMMUNICATION

La communication de cet évènement se déroulera sur deux dimensions :

• Communication digitale via les différents canaux en ligne de #defyhatenow, #defyhatenow_WCA, Civic Cameroon et partenaires
• Communication  traditionnelle via des reportages radios, télévisés et par la publication d’articles dans les principales presses écrites.

Hashtags: #AFFCameroon #Tech4Peace #Factchecking #ThinkB4UClick #HateFreeCameroon #defyhatenow #UnCamerounSansHaine #SafeDigitalSpace #ActionContreIntox #FakeFreeElections #AFFConf2024 #ElectionsansIntox

CONTEXT

On 15 February 2023, the “stories killers” investigative report by the Forbidden Stories consortium was revealed to the general public. It sheds light on the actions of a clandestine Israeli company specialising in influencing social media, which is said to have manipulated dozens of elections, particularly in Africa. Following the work of a team of journalists over several years, the world discovers the modus operandi of “Team Jorge”, which carried out more than twenty campaigns of disinformation on behalf of governments, politicians, companies and wealthy individuals in some African countries. Specialising in disinformation, cyber-espionage and the propagation of false narratives, Team Jorge has long been involved in creating fake accounts on social media, forging documents and marketing operations to restore the tarnished image of a leader or company. It also provides large-scale influence campaigns, personalised deep fakes and the placement of articles by recruiting journalists who have a major influence on the course of elections.

Nigeria in 2015 and Kenya in 2017 are perfect illustrations of how organisations like Cambridge Analytica can influence elections in Africa via Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. In a fragile context where digital access is developing in Africa and internet use is increasingly dynamic in Cameroon with the popularisation of the use of AI and the advent of influential social media such as Tik Tok, the presidential elections scheduled for 2025 appear to be a potential threat to building peace and restoring social stability.

The experience of the 2018 socio-political crisis justifies these fears; During the presidential elections, internet users were inundated by streams of fake news and hate speech, which further polarised social divisions and exacerbated socio-political and tribal tensions. To prevent misinformation and influence campaigns from influencing public debate and social cohesion, #defyhatenow via its Africa Fact-checking Fellowship”- #AFFCameroon programme is organising the 2nd edition of the All #AFFCameroon conference in the November 30th to December 1st, 2023, the maiden edition of the Conference sought to address the underlying factors leading to the proliferation of Hatespeech, generally taking the form of mis-disinformation both online and offline. This year, the two-day gathering seeks to mobilize relevant stakeholders in view of working towards socio-political stability, good governance, democracy and peace in Cameroon during the pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral periods. This conference is therefore intended to be a starting point for a series of activities that will be carried out in the run-up to the elections in Cameroon in 2025, with the aim of proposing more effective preventive and reactive responses to guide future efforts to protect electoral integrity and prevent electoral violence.

JUSTIFICATION

Launched in January 2022, the Africa Fact-checking Fellowship– #AFFCameroon aims to promote fact-checking, data journalism and digital rights to journalists, bloggers and content creators in Africa. This initiative comes in an environment marked by a proliferation of misleading statements, fabrication of information, photos, videos, deepfake, troll sharing, creation of fake accounts, online scams, slanderous, hateful and dangerous discourse on social media targeting individuals and/or inter-ethnic communities.

To date, about 150 Fellowsliving and operating actively in eight out of the ten of Cameroon have received technical, educational and functional support for advanced information verification. The aim is to create a critical mass of fact-checkers, information fighters, online and offline hate speech and digital rights defenders.

To ensure that the work of these news professionals has a greater impact on peace, it is therefore important on one hand to combine the efforts of different stakeholders in society; and on the other hand to promote factchecking practices and media and information literacy to a wider audience (particularly within public and private organisations and institutions) with the aim of improving governance and restoring social trust. Combating disinformation is now a key issue in promoting and preserving freedom of the press and expression, promoting democracy and good governance based on Open Governance, and promoting the responsible use of ICTs for harmonious and sustainable development.

MAIN OBJECTIVE:

The multistakeholder meeting aims to draw lessons from past experience in identifying digital threats posed by mis-disinformation and hate speech to elections in Cameroon and Africa, in order to develop evidence-based strategic guidance on how to respond more effectively in future elections.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES

1. Bring together all the Fellows from  #AFFCameroon Cohort 1 to 8,  to collectively define new perspectives for coordinated actions  in the fight against disinformation in a meaningful way by collaborating with public and private institutions.
2. Raise awareness and increase the commitment of public authorities, organisations and corporations in the fight against disinformation.
3. Initiate an action plan for a coordinated response to disinformation, enabling joint responses to be defined between the various actors and stakeholders.
4. Share new ideas and practices to advance fact-checking in Cameroon and Africa to better combat disinformation and online hate speech during election periods.
5. Reduce the gap between perceptions and the reality observed on the ground and the challenges of disinformation on peace.
6. Promote media and information literacy.

DATE

The ALL AFFCameroon Conference will be held from 27 & 28 March 2024 at Hotel Djeuga Palace in Yaounde.

STRUCTURE

The “ALL AFFCameroon Conference” will be divided into different sessions: plenary round tables and presentations.

EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS

• Public and private institutions, in particular ELECAM, the Senate, the National Assembly and communal and religious representatives.
• Political parties
• Diplomatic missions and international chancelleries
• International and regional organisations
• Civil society organisations
• Mainstream and online media professionals and associations
• Representatives of the Diaspora
• Representatives of digital platforms.
• Fellows #AFFCameroon

EXPECTED RESULTS

• The existence of a synergy of actions between all #AFFCameroon fellows
• Collaboration between organisations/institutions and #AFFCameroon fellows to combat misinformation (integration of fellows into communication units)
• The creation of a platform for exchange and collaboration between ELECAM, political parties, the media and fact-checkers.
• The opening of anti-disinformation units within the organisations/institutions invited.
• The participation of some 300 actors directly or indirectly concerned with issues of disinformation and hate speech.
• Advocacy with public authorities to combat misinformation more effectively and promote greater access to information.

THEMATICS

• Crisis communication and misinformation within the media
• Elections, media and political parties
• Communication campaigns vs. influencer campaigns 
• Elections, good governance and information
• Community actors players, social media networks and social cohesion
• Social media networks, influence and hate speech
• Diaspora, disinformation and political stability
• Disinformation and inter-community and interfaith religious dialogue
• Media and information literacy and elections
• The contribution of digital platforms during elections in Africa.
• Strategy to combat disinformation: the place of history, culture and religion.
• Funding and support for local fact-checking initiatives

COMMUNICATION PLAN

Communication for this event will be two fold:

• Digital communication via the various online channels of #defyhatenow, #defyhatenow_WCA, Civic Cameroon and partners.
• Traditional communication via radio and television reports and publishing articles in the main print media.

Hashtags: #AFFConf2024 #AFFCameroon #Tech4Peace #Factchecking #ThinkB4UClick #HateFreeCameroon #defyhatenow #UnCamerounSansHaine #SafeDigitalSpaces #ActionContreIntox  #ElectionsSansDesinfox

Most of us have been engaging in the artificial intelligence race and the fear of lagging behind is real. While everyone seems to agree that we all  must jump onto the AI bandwagon to be up to date with technology, no one seems to know where this train is going. But are we not forgetting to ask ourselves the crucial questions of what type of AI do we really want for our society? What impact will this technology have or is already having on people’s rights, on people’s lives? Are there social areas where the decision is too important or sensitive to leave to a machine at all? After all, there might not be a single race for AI but multiple ones, going in opposite directions. That is why one of the biggest issues is a general failure to understand the real effect of disinformation in the AI era. Any initiative or effort aimed at combating disinformation should be evidence-based policy solutions, using clear empirical data of actual harms that are of a scale that merits intervention.

On the sideline of a Masterclass for journalists and CSOs in Cameroon, #defyhatenow engaged  a conversation on how AI impacts the information production and distribution process in the digital age. Two lead trainers from Africa Check Senegal, Valdez Onanina and Azil Momar  shed more light during a discussion with our Africa Factchecking Fellowship – #AFFCameroon fellows based in Yaounde. 

The session was moderated by Donald Tchiengue, Digital Projects Coordinator, who launched discussions on how to find fact-checking articles on climate change,  get the right information and to understand the opportunities and threats of AI. 

Fact checking is based on factual information, and you always have to be sure that every piece of information is true. Conducting an investigation, which will take longer, is generally the best option. Focus was made on a few angles as they detailed why some information can be verifiable and why others can not and understanding the extent at which to go to fact check an information, after which recommendations were equally made on how to live with the advent of artificial intelligence as shared in the points  highlighted; Is AI an opportunity or a threat? AI can represent a danger depending on who is using it, it all depends on what we are looking for, AI can provide guidance on the information we are looking for, AI can help us verify content on social networks. Which subjects are important to fact-check and which are not? Criteria for information to be fact-checked: Public interest, Virality, Public demand, Is it verifiable? The trend about the subject matter. What are the limits of artificial intelligence ? Chat GPT does not always bring out true and accurate information, AI will never replace human memory.

#defyhatenow at an age of AI: the Mix of Artificial Intelligence and Mis/disinformation/Hate Speech 

The use of AI for hate speech regulation directly impacts freedom of expression, which raises concerns about the rule of law and in particular, notions of legality, legitimacy and proportionality. Relying on AI, even without human supervision, is a necessity when it comes to content that could never be ethically or legally justifiable, such as child abuse. However, the issue becomes complicated when it comes to contested areas of speech, such as hate speech, for which there is no universal ethical and legal positioning as to what it is and when (if at all) it should be removed.

Although technologies such as natural language processing and sentiment analysis have been developed to detect harmful text without having to rely on specific words or phrases, research has shown that they are still far from being able to grasp context or to detect the intent or motivation of the speaker. This reflects the significance of contextualising speech, something that does not align well with the design and enforcement of automated mechanisms and that could pose risks to the online participation of minority groups. Moreover, automated mechanisms fundamentally lack the ability to comprehend the nuance and context of language and human communication. 

The rule that AI must always remain under human control and states should offer effective access to remedy for victims of human rights violations arising from the way AI functions. It also refers to the promotion of AI literacy. In relation to the latter, there is space for offering human rights training and capacity-building to those who are directly or indirectly involved in the application of AI systems. 

Some Cameroonian civil society organisations working to promote a healthy internet and spaces of public freedoms, gathered in Yaoundé on June 09, 2023, made the following observations: Artificial Intelligence (Al) is a next-level technology that is developing rapidly and has the potential to positively revolutionise many aspects of our lives. However, the development of Al also raises a number of ethical and existential questions that need to be addressed urgently in the world but also in Cameroon. To get more insight on the declaration they made at this meeting, read here for more

It is imperative to adapt and accept that AI is becoming a new normal in our society and will eventually be ever more present in our day to day lives, making it become a constant instinct for everyone to always be observant, to think critically, and asking the right questions is the best thing for at least a minimum level of safety and security, learning and updating to the newest trends about AI, understand how it works inorder to with ease be able to tackle the challenges. #defyhatenow shall through some training session organise a training session for mainstream media leaders to explain these concepts, developing activities within the organisations of people affected or challenged by hate speech and disinformation will allow for more activists to fight this scourge. Fact-checking plays a crucial role in verifying facts and validating results produced by AI’s algorithms. By promoting a culture of fact-checking, we can reinforce the trust and credibility of this technology.

The Region of the rising sun from 29 to 31 August will host a #defyhatenow activity within the framework of the implementation of #FIELDGUIDECameroon. 

Insert event graphic

Context 

On 24 June 2022, #defyhatenow officially launched the second edition of the Social Media Hatespeech Mitigation Field Guide. The resource package aims to raise awareness on, develop counter-narratives, and mitigate violence related to online hate speech and induced conflict in Cameroon. The field tool is designed for youth-led, women-centre and grassroots organisations. The peacebuilding kit offers strategies to be used for online and offline campaigns by actors and stakeholders involved in peace processes. Divided into six chapters that cover a specific aspect of the conflict and peacebuilding process, the field guide acts as a base of action on social media-induced hate speech awareness to tackle conflict, support media literacy and address issues of migration and displacement.

“The Social Media Hate Speech Mitigation Field Guide is not just a document but it guides community leaders, youths, cultural activists, influencers to educate and mitigate directed online hatespeech and induced conflict within and outside affected regions in Cameroon. I am particularly delighted to see youth, community leaders, grassroots organisations and civil society stakeholders using the guide within an information literacy framework. Bridging gaps of knowledge and awareness of social media mechanisms is capital to achieving this document’s goal within our communities online and offline peacebuilders,” Ngala Desmond, Cameroon Country Project Manager, describing the resource package.

Between June and December 2022, the Field Guide was implemented in 33 of the 58 divisions of Cameroon’s ten regions, including the Far North, Centre, Littoral, North West, and South West. Over 70 organisations from these five regions were trained and receive a hard copy of the Field Guide as a conflict resolution tool to support their peacebuilding work locally. In light of the above #defyhatenow gladly engages peacebuilders in the East Region of Cameroon, thus covering more terrain in our collective strive towards a #HateFreeCameroon.

Justification

Cultural differences between Cameroon’s different ethnic groups, and also between Anglophones and Francophones, have spurred negative stereotypes in Cameroon. These stereotypes, along with escalating linguistic tensions, have given rise to violence and hate speech. This project’s aim is to teach community members how to combat online hate speech, while spreading messages of peace, tolerance and reconciliation.

In the East Region of Cameroon, refugee families and the host community continue to be weakened by social and economic changes, health crisis, inequalities and human rights violations on social media, which are causes of online community and tribal conflicts and by extension factors of the underdevelopment of communities. It is for this reason that, ASSPROSOCIAL, with funding from #defyhatenow, is joining forces with the rest of the community in Garoua-Boulai to carry out a series of information sessions. In this particular context marked by the crisis linked to Covid19, to raise awareness on the dangers of online hate speech, gender-based violence and human rights violations.

In order to set up concerted strategies and action plans to combat hate speech, ASSPROSOCIAL, with the support of the local authorities. This project is supported by the decentralised services of the Ministries of Social Affairs, Youth Affairs and Civic Education and that of Women Empowerment and the Family. For three days, a community-based campaign ranging from awareness-raising, advocacy and group discussions in view of engaging local actors in contributing to a digital world free of hate speech. The Field Guide resource package will be used as the main working tool to enhance community resilience to hatespech and other social vices.  

General objective 

From 29 to 31 August, 2023, selected participants from cross section of the community will gain skills on ways to strengthen community protection approach in a comprehensive way by supporting local authorities in planning interventions actions against hate speech. 

Specific objectives 

–  Raise community awareness of the responsible use of social media platforms

– Raise community awareness of the role of families in the fight against discriminatory and tribal language inciting hatred on social networks.

– Ask community leaders about their role in managing hate speech in the community.

– Organise advocacy with community leaders and local authorities to end physical and psychological violence online and promote a world where the physical and moral integrity of communities is respected.

– Engage young people in the search for ways to combat evil and disinformation.

– Educate teenagers about hate speech, its physical and psychological consequences and the actions they can take to mitigate it in their communities.

– Create an environment that fosters the right to freedom of expression and gender equality.

Expected Outcomes 

• Community members are made aware of hate speech
• Advocacy with community leaders and local authorities is organised
• Young people are trained on the consequences of hate speech and the legal measures against hate speech and conflict.
• The community is better able to use social networks for constructive purposes, peace and development.

Target beneficiaries

The main beneficiaries of these activities are, among others

• The host and refugee community (women, girls, men and boys)
• Community leaders
• Administrative authorities 

Methodology

Under the coordination of DAJEC and CESO, the activities will take place from 09 to 12 August 2023, and will include a series of community-centred activities.. These activities are designed to popularise information on the situation of refugees in the country. The aim of these activities is to disseminate information about the fight against hate speech. The aim is to eliminate gender-based social inequalities through hate speech on social networks.

About #defyhatenow

#defyhatenow initiative works on providing community-based and data-driven solutions to the problem of hate speech, disinformation and misinformation. Our work focuses on creating a framework for increasing trust between stakeholders through mobilizing civic action against all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence. #defyhatenow seeks to support the voices and actions of citizens working against online induced conflict within and outside affected regions by bringing different stakeholders into a peace-oriented media and information literacy framework.

To know more about our Social Media Mitigation Field Guide Click here here

The Pidgin version of the Field Guide Posters is accessible here

Following a call for application for a two-day masterclass on factchecking, a total of 21 journalists from Yaounde, Bafoussam, Foumban and Douala were selected for the training in Yaounde on July 24-25, 2023. The session was organised by Africa’s first independent factchecking organisation, Africa Check with technical support from #defyhatenow, as member of Africa Facts Network. This collaboration falls in line with Africa Check’s leading role on the continent in building, developing and strengthening fact-checking organisations capacity by offering in-depth train-the-trainer programmes to strengthen African countries’ information ecosystems.

Journalists Build capacity on factchecking

Welcoming the participants and guest trainers, Ngala Desmond, Cameroon Country Project Manager stressed on the importance of such training in Cameroon, as the country is slowly moving toward the electoral year. It should be noted that mis/disinformation is usually rife before, during and after elections, owing to different parties’ interest in managing public affairs. This unfortunately serves as a driver of hatespeech, which if left unattended to, can incite violence in communities. He concluded by urging the attendees to take their lessons seriously and build their capacity in order to uphold their credibility, even in the face of rising citizen journalism.

Setting the pace with the first training, journalists selected from both mainstream and new media outlets shared experience on the types of mis/disinformation seen online. The facilitated discussions were led by Valdez Onanina and Azil Momar, from Africa Check’s Dakar office in Senegal. They started the day by presenting Africa Check’s mission, work and role on the continent, which explain their presence in Cameroon. For two days, a series of topics were treated including: tips for spotting false information online, online tools for verifying images and videos, the five-step fact-checking process and its application and advanced online search techniques. The theoretical part of each topic was completed by a practice, to assess the understanding of the learners. Either individually or in groups, the feedback helped the lead trainers to adjust the content to the context. 

CSO leaders upgrade skills on countering mis/disinformation

On July 26 to 27, 2023 a similar session followed, this time around with 21 leaders of community-based organisations. Widespread disinformation, especial online via social media affects the decision making and intervention process of grassroot organisations. The factchecking masterclass aimed at helping selected participants to gain knowledge on existing information verification tools and techniques that can help them in their field of operation. Going through the same exercises as their predecessor, the teaching and learning process was spiced by examples of photos, videos and audios of doubtful origins widely spread via social media. 

On the importance of factchecking skills to CSO leaders, the session was a reminder for community leaders to always verify information at their disposal before taking action. A video report of a failed polio vaccine in Nigeria was projected, showing an entire community struck by crippled children due to disinformation about the vaccine. Taking examples in Cameroon, participants shared their experience about fake photos and videos relating to the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Regions of the country, requesting them to take action. However, most of these usually turned out to be false information. 

Before saying quits, both groups pledged to practice acquired skills in order to improve their quality of their reports about happenings in their communities. Another commitment taken, was equally the decision to improve the relationship with their direct audience and enhance trust to help curb mis/disinformation.

About Africa Check

Africa Check, the continent’s first independent non-profit fact-checking organisation, supported by philanthropic organisations and individual donors, was established in South Africa in 2012. Through our work we seek to reduce the spread and impact of misinformation and promote accurate, evidence-based understanding in the public, governments and media. This will ultimately strengthen democracy, foster engaged citizenship and improve life outcomes across the continent.

About #defyhatenow

#defyhatenow, an Initiative of r0g_agency for open culture and critical transformation in Berlin, was introduced in Cameroon with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office. Applying a bottom-up approach, we work to provide community-based, data-driven solutions to the problem of hate speech, misinformation and fake news. #defyhatenow initiative is implemented in Cameroon by Association Civic Watch, working to enhance the capacities of primarily youth and civil society organisations with focus on creating a framework for building trust among stakeholders by mobilising civic action against all forms of hate speech and incitement to violence.

#Act4Peace #defyhatenow #Women4Peace #HateFreeCameroon #Factchecking

Theophilous Ochang, Torit-based VoEES

In South Sudan, like in many other parts of the world, Facebook account attacks and scams have become persistent issues for journalists and media practitioners. These attacks pose significant threats to digital safety and data security, potentially compromising sensitive information and undermining trust in the media. The spread of misinformation and disinformation through hacked accounts also amplifies social and political tensions. 

Successfully mitigating these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that includes strong cybersecurity measures, regular training on digital hygiene and threat awareness, and fostering a culture of digital literacy among journalists and media professionals. Establishing channels for reporting and promptly addressing such attacks and scams is crucial in minimizing their impact and safeguarding the integrity of journalism in South Sudan.

Theophilous Ochang Andrew, an esteemed Media Practitioner at the Voice of Eastern Equatoria state-run radio station 97.5FM in Torit town, has successfully addressed a recurring issue of Facebook account hacking within his community. Previously, a lack of support was available for individuals affected by this problem.

Theophilous expressed gratitude for participating in the comprehensive online training program that expanded his knowledge in various areas. The training, particularly the Digital Safety and Data Security session held on July 26, 2023, enlightened him about proactive measures to assist his community, which had frequently fallen victim to cyber hackers. His newfound understanding motivated him to take action.

After attending the training session, Theophilous demonstrated the practical application of his learnings by assisting his colleague, Ongorok Pangarasio, whose Facebook account had been compromised a month prior. Utilizing his acquired expertise, Theophilous regained control of Ongorok’s account, returning it to its rightful owner. Presently, Ongorok enjoys uninterrupted access to his account, free from interference.

This experience has dramatically empowered Theophilous, fulfilling a personal aspiration of being able to aid communities vulnerable to online threats. With the knowledge he has gained, he is committed to continuing his efforts to safeguard communities against such risks. Taking proactive steps, Theophilous has already informed his extensive network of friends on Facebook, urging them not to remain silent if they encounter similar incidents. By sharing the link facebook.com/hacked, he ensures that individuals can access crucial information and resources to combat hacking attempts.

Theophilous’s dedication to digital security and his proactive approach to protecting his community exemplify his invaluable contribution. He is actively raising awareness and fostering a safer online environment for all through his actions.

Defyhatenow is working with IREX in implementing the Sustainable Independent Media Activity (SIMA) to improve access to credible, accurate, and reliable information for South Sudanese citizens by promoting the sustainability of high-quality, independent and factual reporting. SIMA is grounded in the understanding that a vibrant, resilient, and self-reliant media sector is a core building block for greater inclusive social cohesion, accountability, enhanced democratic governance, conflict resolution, and more pluralistic societies. In designing an approach to bolster independent media amidst various obstacles, IREX and Defyhatenow launched a three-month journalists’ mentorship program targeting forty (40) content creators in South Sudan to equip them with skills and knowledge to combat disinformation, explicitly focusing on fact-checking and verification techniques.

Africa Check in collaboration with #defyhatenow is hosting a two-day fact-checking and verification masterclass in Cameroon for journalists from 9am to 4pm on 22 -23 June 2023. To register for the workshop, complete the form by Thursday 26 April 2023. PLEASE NOTE: Spaces are limited so don’t apply if you won’t be available to attend the two-day session in full.  Venue to be confirmed closer to the time.  Accommodation and local travel will be provided      

The training will cover the types of false information (dis- and misinformation); how and why false information spreads; using online tools to verify information, images and videos; finding accurate data from credible sources; and how to apply fact-checking methodology in your daily reporting. 

Africa Check en collaboration avec #defyhatenow organise un masterclass de deux jours sur le fact-checking et la vérification des faits au Cameroun à l’intention les journalistes, de 9h à 16h, les 22 et 23 juin 2023. Pour participer à l’atelier de travail, bien vouloir remplir ce formulaire avant jeudi 26 avril 2023. NOTEZ-BIEN : Les places sont limitées, bien vouloir ne pas vous inscrire si vous êtes dans l’incapacité d’assister à l’intégralité de la session de deux jours.  Le lieu de l’atelier vous sera confirmé à une date ultérieure. L’hébergement et les déplacements locaux seront pris en charge.

La formation abordera les point suivants : Types de fausses informations (désinformation et mésinformation) ; Causes et moyens de propagation des fausses informations; Utilisation d’outils en ligne pour vérifier les informations, les images et les vidéos ; la recherche de données exactes auprès de sources crédibles ; différentes applications de la méthodologie de vérification des faits dans vos reportages au quotidien