Akua Gyekye, Public Policy Manager for Africa, Facebook says there are 24 million people in Nigeria who are active on Facebook every month, noting that users should report fake accounts.
Speaking on the incidence of fake news on Facebook, Gyekye, said Facebook users should report any page that puts fake news on the platform, arguing that it is impossible to monitor every conversation on Facebook.
“If you know a page that puts out #FakeNews, please report it to Facebook. We have 24 million people active every month in Nigeria, it is impossible for us to monitor every conversation on Facebook. It is important for users to report fake accounts,” Gyekye said in Abuja on Tuesday at the ongoing Internet Freedom Forum.
"If you know a page that puts out #FakeNews, please report it to Facebook. We have 24 million people active every month in Nigeria, it is impossible for us to monitor every conversation on Facebook. It is important for users to report fake accounts" – Akua Gyekye#IFF2018 pic.twitter.com/KPYuMILywH
— Paradigm Initiative (PIN) (@ParadigmHQ) April 24, 2018
The forum, a three-day event is organized by Paradigm Initiative.
She explained that Facebook would ensure that fake news does not affect discussion and information dissemination as Nigeria moves closer to 2019 elections.
“We don’t want #FakeNews to affect the discussion & information dissemination as Nigeria moves closer to the 2019 Elections. Holding government & institutions accountable is important, but how do we ensure that the right to challenge ideas are not abused,” she said
Making contributions at the Facebook Fake News Roundtable, Joe Abah , former Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) noted that “Platforms which continuously spread Fake news lose credibility.”
He added that “when governments put out accurate news it reduces the scope for Fake News”
“Government often doesn’t give out false information. The reality is that government often doesn’t give out any information at all. Most times, government’s information release is reactive. The problem is the damage has already been done before that.” He said