"Fact-checking" becomes essential. Disinformation campaigns swarm on social networks and digital platforms. In particular the approach of elections. In the viewfinder: political leaders to be discredited, public debates to weaken and hate speech to amplify. Côte d'Ivoire, far from being an isolated case in Africa, is summoned from this scourge.
Watch out for false accounts and false media
Facebook parent company , like other large technology companies, track "inauthentic coordinates". A series of initiatives has notably led him to create his "virtual operational center". This has data experts, engineers and lawyers. Its objective: to detect false accounts intended to influence public opinion. One of his reports has just highlighted a new duperie maneuver in Africa. The roots reflect a phenomenon of global and old manipulation…
To take the case of Burkina Faso. False accounts are pinned for having reproduced, almost identically, legitimate media, in order to publish partisan content. The parent company Meta realizes news stories and positive comments on the transitional government, emanating from a false group of accounts, already detected in 2021. It is the work of "love our Africa". A said Ivorian NGO with multiple ramifications, which comes from questionable funding. The company therefore deletes 134 Facebook accounts and 20 Instagram accounts. Evil is already done: 70,000 people are subscribing!
The usefulness of the verification of sources and training in Côte d'Ivoire
It must be remembered. In Côte d'Ivoire, players in the digital press combine within a network of online press professionals (Repprelci). One of the missions resulted in the implementation of a platform accessible to all: Ivoirecheck.com . Inspired, many editors even offer a section dedicated to fact checking on their site.
To detect false information, nothing better than training. On this subject, there is no shortage of initiatives: a school has even emerged in Angré Château, in Abidjan, 100% free. In general, critical thinking, crossing of sources and the use of tools are proof. In the case of authentication of a photo or video, just consult Google Images , Yandex , Tineye , Bing etc. Reflexes that each Ivorian can adopt!
In the absence of a method, legislation applies
The AIP (Ivorian press agency) like many others, has set a guideline. If an alert is triggered on social networks and on websites, the drafting proceeds to verifications of sources and information accuracy before any publication. Also, in the event of a person or an institution, each stakeholder is contacted to harvest the opinions, so as not to mislead the readers, recalled, recently, its deputy editor in chief Mamadou Traoré.

In Côte d'Ivoire, verification of facts and media education becomes everyone's business. The legislation, adopted on January 31, 2023, subjects a legal framework almost similar to the media, influencers, bloggers and activists from social networks with more than 25,000 subscribers. In the event of offenses (incitement to hatred, public provocation, etc.), the accused risk up to a year of imprisonment and a fine of 10,000,000 CFA francs.
The devastating phenomenon of disinformation emanating from foreign states adds a little more complexity. Also, before disseminating viral information, the rule to follow is especially that of common sense.