Kenyan President William Ruto has announced measures to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) from spreading misinformation, alongside the launch of the fifth National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership. The initiative aims to promote international cooperation on the ethical use of AI. This follows incidents of social unrest caused by AI in 2021 and 2023, and mass protests earlier this year.

AI misinformation poses a threat to democracy

Kenyan President William Ruto said the government is taking steps to prevent the use of artificial intelligence in spreading misinformation. Ruto made the announcement while launching the fifth National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership.

“We are also implementing a regulatory regime to prevent the misuse of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, leading to misinformation that threatens our democracy,” the Kenyan president said.

According to a report, the Kenyan leader’s initiative aims to foster collaboration between his government and international partners. Such collaboration is aimed at ensuring the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies such as generative AI.

Kenya’s reported move to combat AI misinformation comes just months after mass protests rocked the West African nation. While the protests were largely sparked by the Ruto government’s plans to raise taxes, two incidents, one in 2021 and another in 2023, demonstrated how AI can be used to foment social unrest.

However, growing fears about the potential for harm from AI are not stopping governments from embracing the technology. As Techpoint Africa reports, the Ruto administration has partnered with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to develop the country’s national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy, aimed at boosting digital inclusion.

Earlier, a bill proposed the establishment of the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Association to enforce compliance, advise the government on AI trends, and promote responsible and ethical development. The bill also proposed penalties of up to 24 months in prison or a fine of not more than $6,250 for unlicensed AI and robotics entities.

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