Framework For Mitigating the Risks of Synthetic Media and Misinformation in Nigerian Political Communication

Deepfakes, synthetic media, and other manipulated media generated through artificial intelligence and used with malicious intent have the potential to threaten national unity by causing social unrest and eroding trust, particularly during elections. The evolution of synthetic media in political communication worsens misinformation by increasing voter manipulation and bias. The trend of using manipulated information during the campaign season in Nigeria demands attention, especially in respect to mitigation techniques. This study, thus, proposes a framework for mitigating risks associated with synthetic media and misinformation in Nigerian political communication using a qualitative systematic review design. A systematic synthesis of existing literature on fake news mitigation strategies within the context of synthetic media (deepfakes) indicates that a multi-dimensional socio-technical framework is the best roadmap for policymakers, election managers, tech companies, and civil society to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic processes from the threat of manipulated media.