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14/07/23 | Your weekly dose of FACTS
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Hi fellow fact-checker

Welcome to our weekly newsletter! Get ready for the latest facts and fact-checking news from around Africa.
Mauritius, here we come! Fact-checkers from across Africa will gather in Port Louis in October for the #AfricaFactsSummit to share the latest trends, research and practical approaches to tackling the spread of false information.

As the tools for creating AI-generated content improve and we continue to see how much is possible with this technology, it's important to be able to tell the real from the fake. Our guide to spotting AI-generated images and videos is here to help.

Even if criminals were targeting unsuspecting motorists with eggs thrown at windscreens, it wouldn't stop you from driving by blocking "your vision up to 92.5%". Also from our debunk corner, it's not true that the northern hemisphere is 'cooling down', and any post that includes the phrase 'free laptop' is likely a scam.
Yours in fact-checking,

👋🏿 The Africa Check team

 Press Release 


Mauritius to host the 2023 Africa Facts summit


The 2023 edition of the Africa Facts summit, to be held in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis on 5-6 October, will bring together fact-checking organisations and experts from all regions of the continent.

The Africa Facts network has grown from two organisations in 2017, when it was established, to more than 40 member organisations. 

This expanded reach of the network, particularly in Arabic-speaking and Francophone countries, highlights the progress made by organisations working to counter misinformation across the continent.

The network aims to strengthen and elevate the practice of fact-checking and resilience-building on the continent.


 #TipsOfTheWeek 

Dealing with family members who share misinformation can be challenging, as it often involves navigating sensitive topics and maintaining healthy relationships. Here are some steps you can take to address this issue.

  1. Educate yourself: Before engaging in a discussion, make sure you have accurate information about the topic at hand. Do your research using reliable sources to gather facts and evidence. This will enable you to have informed conversations and counter misinformation effectively.

  2. Choose the right time and place: Select an appropriate setting for the conversation, preferably a quiet and private place. Avoid discussing sensitive topics during family gatherings or other stressful situations that could escalate tensions.

  3. Remain calm and respectful: During discussions, maintain a respectful and understanding attitude. Avoid becoming confrontational or dismissive, as this may only lead to defensiveness and resistance from your family members. 

  4. Start with active listening: Begin the conversation by actively listening to their perspective. Allow them to express their views, concerns, and beliefs. Show empathy and try to understand their motivations for sharing misinformation. This approach helps to create a more open and receptive atmosphere.

  5. Focus on shared values: Find common ground and highlight shared values. Emphasise the importance of truth, accuracy, and critical thinking. Link the misinformation to the potential consequences it may have on shared values, such as health, safety, or well-being.

  6. Provide alternative information sources: Recommend fact-checking websites, reputable news outlets, or expert opinion. Encourage your family members to seek out different perspectives and engage in critical thinking.

  7. Follow up with evidence: If appropriate, follow up with your family members after the discussion by sharing additional evidence or information that supports your point of view. This demonstrates your commitment to the discussion and helps to encourage ongoing dialogue.

  8. Accept limitations: It's important to recognise that not everyone will change their mind immediately. Understand that you can't control people's beliefs, and it's okay if they don't agree with you right away. Respect their autonomy, and focus on maintaining positive relationships rather than winning arguments.

Remember that changing someone's beliefs is a gradual process. It's crucial to approach these conversations with empathy, patience, and respect. 

 

 Debunk corner 


Received any dodgy messages on WhatsApp or seen possible misinformation on social media? Check out this list of what we've seen shared over the past week. 


Health

Yes, a positive home pregnancy test in men could be a sign of testicular cancer. But it's important to know that a negative pregnancy test doesn't rule out the possibility of this type of cancer.

Cancer kills millions of people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. But these combinations of baking soda and molasses or soursop leaf cannot cure the disease, at any stage.

You've been warned...

Different versions of a widely shared Facebook post warn motorists that criminals are throwing eggs at windscreens to target potential victims. The warning is old and it’s bad advice - water mixed with egg won’t cloud your car’s windscreen.


What (didn't) happen this week

The latest claim in climate change denialism is that “the northern hemisphere is cooling”, meaning that “global warming” isn’t global. This is FALSE. While higher temperatures have been recorded all over the world, they’re more frequent and more intense in the north.

Claims are circulating that South Africa will no longer host the Brics summit. But official sources have confirmed that the event will go ahead in the country.

Global news events tend to attract false information. Claims that a video on social media showed the Titan submersible before it imploded are untrue.

Footage of a violent assault in Bordeaux, France is disturbing. But the alleged attacker was born in the country and is a citizen - not an ‘African migrant’ or ‘refugee’ as claimed. His family has said they are worried about his mental health.

Run  - it's a scam!

Mobile network operator MTN is rewarding owners of old SIM cards with free data, according to a promotion posted on Facebook. But MTN is not doing this. The supposed promotion is a scam and has been making the rounds in several African countries.

The Facebook account Mghülí Wå Üñgëm offers thousands of Kenyan shillings to those willing to advertise on WhatsApp. You can earn money by advertising “company products” on your WhatsApp status. Don’t fall for this trick used by scammers on Facebook.

President Bola Tinubu may have plans to empower young people in Nigeria, but claims that he’s giving away thousands of naira are false.

A Facebook page is posing as a popular financial service company, OPay, and offering Nigerians fake investments. The real company says it does not have an investment platform.

Nigerians, beware of this scam Facebook account impersonating the betting platform SportyBet and offering fake bonuses.

A free laptop from the government would go a long way to help young Nigerians in need. But this offer isn't from the government, it’s a way for scammers to steal your personal information. 

Jambo, Kenya!

A video on TikTok showed a fire burning several cars and claimed it happened in Naivasha, Kenya, during the 2023 Safari Rally. But the incident took place at a rally in Botswana, more than 2,500 kilometres away.

Ignore this fake list of 20 shortlisted candidates for Kenya's new ambassadors and heads of mission. There has been no mention of this list in any credible news outlet in Kenya. But other changes in the foreign service have been reported.

How far, Naija?

Claims are circulating online that traders from the Igbo community in Lagos are being targeted. But these are false and could inflame tensions between different communities in the state.

As a Nigerian court hears a challenge to the 25 February 2023 presidential election, there is no evidence that it has ordered the arrest of the head of the country's electoral commission.

Odumosu led the publicly funded anti-crime Rapid Response Squad and also headed a special unit of the Lagos police. But online claims that he will chair the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are false.

Nigeria is planning a national census. But claims that the population commission has already recruited staff for the exercise are false.

The recruitment window for the Nigerian police for 2023 has not yet opened. Any social media posts claiming otherwise are false. The force has asked the public to monitor its official website and social media accounts for updates.

 Guide 


Africa Check’s tips for spotting AI-generated images and videos

 

Tools that use AI to generate or manipulate content work in different ways, and leave behind different clues in the content. The clues discussed below are things that are detectable at the time of writing, but may not always be. 

The first place to look is for a watermark or disclaimer. Although these are easy to remove later, and someone who is trying to fool you is unlikely to put a telltale watermark on an image, it’s always important to look for them as a first step. 

Because of the way the algorithms work in current AI-powered image generators, these tools struggle to perfectly recreate certain common features of photos, such as hands and teeth, although they are getting better at it. But some clues also come down to something just feeling “off” or strange at first glance. Skin that looks too smooth or polished, or has a plasticky sheen, can also be a sign that an image is AI-generated. 

Pay particular attention to mouth and body movements, eyes (do they move or blink?) and skin detail. Also, listen carefully to the voice - does it sound robotic or unnatural or is the accent off? Next, does the background match the lighting and general appearance of the body and face? 

Compare with real images or videos. Just as you would use visual clues to work out where a photo was taken, try to identify details that you can compare with accurate information. If an image is supposed to be of a real person or place, then details such as facial features, hairstyles, landscapes and other details should match real life. 


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 Fact-checking news 


Meta laid off staff on disinformation teams responsible for election safety, report says


Via Business Insider

Meta made cuts to teams responsible for combatting political disinformation, CNN reported.

People who helped tackle such campaigns in the 2022 midterms were reportedly laid off in the fall and spring.

It raises concerns ahead of the 2024 elections, especially with the potential for AI disinformation.

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Your weekly dose of facts in newsletter form is created by Laura Kapelari (@laurakapelari). It is edited by Lee Mwiti (@LMAfrican) and Cayley Clifford (@cayleyclifford).
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