Recording: Digital Divides: Online Hate Speech, Disinformation and AI in Africa

This webinar is part of a series exploring the multifaceted impacts of online hate speech and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in amplifying these dynamics across different global contexts. Speakers will delve into the complex interplay between AI-driven technologies and the spread of both hate speech and disinformation with a focus on the African context. By examining these connected challenges, the event aims to better understand the unique ways in which digital content – both harmful and misleading – shapes societal beliefs, behaviours, and policies in African nations.

The webinar will provide an overview of the current context and take a more detailed look over two sessions. 

Session 1: Navigating the Disinformation Ecosystem in Africa: AI Enhancements and Traditional Tactics 

The first session will explore the multifaceted nature of disinformation in Africa, examining both traditional forms and the emerging complexities introduced by AI technologies. The focus will extend beyond electoral politics to include the impact on communal violence, public health misinformation, and the manipulation of social narratives. 

Speakers

Dr Ngala Desmond, President of Association Civil Watch & Country Project Manager at #defyhatenow Cameroon

Guillaume Soto-Mayer, Co-Found of Egregor

Session 2: Digital Violence: Misogyny and Gender-Based Violence in the African Context  

The second session will discuss the increasing concern of online gender-based violence amplified by AI technologies. It will address how misogynistic narratives are spread through AI tools, affecting women's participation in digital and public spaces, and the relationship between online hate and sexual-and-gender-based violence. 

Speakers

Chioma Agwuegbo, Executive Director of TechHerNG

Cherie Oyier, Program Officer at KICTANet

Organisers

• Petra Regeni, Research Analyst and Project Officer, RUSI Europe, Terrorism and Conflict
• Christopher Hockey, Senior Research Fellow, RUSI Nairobi, Terrorism and Conflict
• Michael Jones, Senior Research Fellow, Terrorism and Conflict
• Claudia Wallner, Research Fellow, Terrorism and Conflict
• Joana de Deus Pereira, Senior Research Fellow, Terrorism and Conflict