Kenyan President William Ruto announced measures to prevent artificial intelligence (AI) from spreading disinformation, alongside the launch of the Fifth National Action Plan on Open Government Partnership. The initiative aims to foster international cooperation for ethical AI use. This comes after AI-fueled social unrest incidents in 2021 and 2023, and mass protests earlier this year.
Kenya Acting to Curb AI Disinformation, President Ruto Says
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AI Disinformation Poses Threat to Democracy
Kenyan President William Ruto says the government is taking steps to prevent the use of artificial intelligence in spreading disinformation. Ruto made the announcement while launching the Fifth National Action Plan on Open Government Partnership.
“We are also implementing a regulatory regime that forestalls the abuse of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, which leads to disinformation that threatens our democracy,” the Kenyan President said.
According to a report, the Kenyan leader’s initiative aims to foster cooperation between his government and international partners. Such collaboration seeks to ensure the ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies like generative AI.
Kenya’s reported implementation of measures to counter AI disinformation comes just a few months after mass protests rocked the East African nation. Though the protests were primarily sparked by the Ruto government’s plan to increase taxes, two incidents, one in 2021 and another in 2023, demonstrated how AI can be used to fuel social unrest.
However, the growing fear of AI’s potential for harm has not deterred the government from adopting the technology. As reported by Techpoint Africa, the Ruto government partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to develop the country’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy, aimed at driving digital expansion.
Before that, a bill proposing the creation of the Kenya Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Society sought 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 of imprisonment or a fine not exceeding $6,250 for unlicensed AI and robotic entities.
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