Int'l Cooperation Needed to Deal With 'Disruptive Technologies' of Media, Cameroonian Minister Says

International cooperation is needed to combat some cross-border digital malignancies in the media, Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon's Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, told Sputnik Africa, calling for cooperation with the Sputnik News Agency.

"The media, be it the media or even the population, with digital technologies, you know that these disruptive technologies have been created so that we no longer respect borders. That means that in order to get out of this, we need international cooperation, so we need Sputnik to work together, but in a win-win partnership," the minister said.

She explained that this means that Sputnik has something to offer with its expertise in this field, and that African countries thus want to protect their identity and "remain African because we have our say."

In this regard, the minister praised the presence of Sputnik from the Russian side at the summit in the West African country, as it is better acquainted with the continent's affairs.

"Cameroon already has very good relations with Russia. Cameroon hosted an event that is strategic for development. So it was important that Russia, which is already advanced, could be present to find out what is happening in Africa to better accompany us," Libom Li Likeng pointed out.

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Speaking on the digital transformation of African media to inform and educate the public, the minister noted the emergence of artificial intelligence in the press, highlighting its dual aspect.

On the one hand, AI can improve and deepen journalists' research, but on the other hand, it needs to be monitored so that it does not become dangerous, according to Libom Li Likeng. Therefore, journalists need to fact-check all information before reporting it to the public, she added.

"There is a risk if the journalist loses the main part of his function, which is to check before communicating. If he doesn't do that anymore, he's in the buzz and we're in trouble. So it is appropriate for Africa, which has a lot of challenges to overcome, that our media be made aware of the proper use, not of social networks now, but the proper use of artificial intelligence," the minister concluded.

Under the theme "The New Frontiers of African Media: Artificial Intelligence," the summit is taking place in Cameroon from March 4-6. It aims to address the issue of editorial automation and the impact of artificial intelligence on the diversity and integrity of information.