EGI-Benin: focus on deepfakes and the information society in Africa

September 26 and 27, 2024 marked the seventh edition of the Internet Governance School in Benin (EGI-Benin), an initiative that continues to strengthen the skills of young people on emerging digital issues. Under the theme “deepfakes in Internet governance: better understanding the phenomenon and its impacts”, this edition, which echoes that of last March in Parakou, brought together around thirty young Beninese people around an essential issue for the future of Internet governance in Africa.

(Cio Mag) – The main objective of this edition was to train 30 young people to master the precepts linked to deepfakes, a technology which, although revolutionary, poses complex challenges in terms of trust in the media and the regulation of content in line. According to Ganiath Bello, Coordinator of EGI-Benin 7, by addressing this theme, « EGI-Benin not only wishes to raise awareness of this phenomenon, but also to provide participants with the necessary tools to understand and react to the challenges posed by deepfakes. »

During this seventh edition of the Internet Governance School in Benin, participants were able to familiarize themselves with the concepts of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, while learning to understand their history and their characteristics. They were also made aware of the impacts of these technologies on the media, including loss of public trust and the potential for misinformation.

The training allowed young people to discover tools for detecting deepfakes and to explore innovations to mitigate their negative effects. An interactive workshop strengthened their skills in creating and detecting deepfakes, and a closing debate highlighted the opportunities and threats these technologies represent for the information society in Africa, with a focus on necessary regulation to regulate these new issues.

Immersion dans le fact-checking

This seventh edition was also enriched by the participation of Pierre Dandjinou, ICANN vice-president for Africa, who shared with the participants his thoughts on the history of the Internet in Africa and Benin. His intervention allowed young people to better understand the roots of Internet development on the continent, while encouraging them to imagine innovative solutions to support digital development in Africa.

In addition to this theoretical and practical training, participants had the opportunity to visit the headquarters of Banouto, a Beninese media outlet which stands out for its department dedicated to fact-checking. This visit allowed young people to discover up close local initiatives aimed at combating disinformation and guaranteeing the integrity of information, a crucial issue in a world where deepfakes are increasing.

Fructueux Tagnon, a lawyer by training, participant stated that he “ deepened his knowledge on the effects of deepfakes, both negative and positive, and on its use as a digital tool. » He says he emerged very seasoned to contribute more to the fight against fake news.