INEC's Amupitan Warns of AI Threats to 2027 Elections

At a national summit on Artificial Intelligence, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, and Electoral Information Integrity in Abuja, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raised concerns about the potential for AI-generated misinformation to disrupt the 2027 general elections. He highlighted threats such as audio impersonations of election officials, fabricated results, and false polling announcements that could suppress voter turnout.

Amupitan emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among INEC, security agencies, media organizations, technology platforms, and fact-checkers to counter these threats. He noted that AI could compromise elections before voting begins, as generative AI makes it easier to create convincing fake content.

Amupitan identified vulnerable stages in the electoral cycle, including voter registration and result announcements. He mentioned that INEC is enhancing its technical capacity and collaborating with partners like the European Union.

Former INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega advocated for the use of AI tools to provide verified information to voters.