Criminalise Fake AI Content Targeting Leaders, Others, Coalition Urges Government

The Coalition for Ethical Technology and Democratic Integrity (CETDI) has called on the federal government to criminalise the use of fake, AI-generated content targeting political leaders and other individuals, warning that the trend posed a serious threat to national security.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Coalition said authorities must recognise AI-generated blackmail as a form of cyber-terrorism and take urgent legislative and enforcement actions to curb its spread.

The Coalition’s Convener, Abdullahi Haruna Haruspice, said recent advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly hyper-realistic deepfake images, videos and audio, have introduced a dangerous dimension to cybercrime and political manipulation.

According to him, if left unchecked, the development could erode public trust, trigger political crises, damage reputations and undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and electoral processes.

“What was once considered science fiction has now become a credible and immediate threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability, especially as the nation approaches the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Haruspice added that the Coalition had observed troubling patterns suggesting that both local and foreign actors were deploying AI-generated content to blackmail, defame and destabilise prominent individuals in Nigeria’s political and governance space.

He listed those considered vulnerable to include President Bola Tinubu; Seyi Tinubu; Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission; Otunba Segun Showunmi; Nyesom Wike; Bashir Bayo Ojulari; Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN); and Hakeem Muri-Okunola, among others.

“These AI-generated materials are not harmless fabrications. They are deliberately designed to depict false and damaging scenarios, including fabricated scandals, fraudulent activities, and manipulated statements, with the intent to extort, intimidate, mislead the public, and influence political outcomes,” he said.

“The sophistication of these tools makes detection extremely difficult without specialised forensic capabilities.”

The Coalition urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by verifying information before sharing and resisting the spread of unverified or suspicious content.

It also recommended urgent legislative and executive measures to criminalise malicious deepfake content, increased investment in detection technologies, and stronger digital security systems for public office holders.

The group further called on political actors to refrain from using AI tools for malicious purposes and urged law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders.

“The misuse of AI for blackmail and disinformation represents a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s democracy,” Haruspice said, adding that the Coalition remained committed to promoting truth, transparency and the protection of democratic integrity.