Where does biased but legitimate commentary shade into propaganda and lies?
What impact has fake news on public understanding of the world, and also on the public response to traditional journalism? If all views are equally valid, does objectivity and balance lose all value?
Is there any difference in the way people of different ages, social backgrounds, genders etc use and respond to fake news?
What legal and non-legal solutions do you propose to curb the negatives of fake and deep fake content?
(Note: your video may not be played longer than two minutes in the open class contest which will also serve as an oral exam).
Introduction
The rapid growth of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated the spread of fake news and deepfakes, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from deception and eroding public trust in journalism. This paper examines the boundary between legitimate commentary and propaganda, the impact of misinformation, demographic differences in susceptibility, and the legal and non-legal measures required to address these challenges.
Commentary, Propaganda and Lies
Legitimate commentary remains protected even when it is biased, provided it is based on verifiable facts. Bias reflects interpretation or emphasis rather than fabrication. Commentary becomes propaganda when facts are selectively presented or manipulated to persuade audiences rather than inform them. It becomes an outright lie when false information is deliberately presented as truth. Deepfakes illustrate this progression by using AI to generate realistic audio, images, or videos portraying events or statements that never occurred, thereby undermining confidence in visual evidence itself.23
Impact of Fake News
Fake news undermines public understanding by spreading false information more rapidly than verified news through social media algorithms that prioritise sensational content. AI-generated content has further complicated efforts to distinguish truth from deception, contributing to declining public trust in traditional journalism, with only 28 per cent of Americans expressing confidence in the media in 2025.24 Nevertheless, professional journalism remains indispensable because its commitment to verification, transparency, and accountability distinguishes it from misinformation and propaganda.25
Response to Fake News
Susceptibility to fake news varies across demographic groups. Younger people encounter more misinformation through social media, while older adults may struggle to detect sophisticated deepfakes because of lower digital literacy.26 Although media literacy improves critical evaluation, political identity remains the strongest predictor of susceptibility, with individuals tending to accept information that reinforces their existing beliefs. Gender differences are comparatively less significant than age, media literacy, and political affiliation.27
Legal and Non-Legal Solutions
Addressing fake news and deepfakes requires a balanced combination of legal and non-legal interventions. Legally, governments should introduce mandatory disclosure requirements for AI-generated content, similar to those contained in the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act.28 Although Ghana has no legislation specifically regulating deepfakes, the Electronic Communications Act 2008 (Act 775) and the Cybersecurity Act 2020 (Act 1038) may apply where synthetic media is used to facilitate fraud or other criminal offences.29 Any regulatory framework should, however, be carefully drafted to protect freedom of expression, investigative journalism, satire, and legitimate political criticism.
Non-legal measures are equally important. Media and digital literacy programmes should equip citizens with the skills to verify information and identify manipulated content before sharing it. Social media platforms should strengthen AI detection tools, implement content authentication standards, and clearly label AI-generated media. Independent fact-checking organisations and responsible journalism also play a critical role in maintaining public confidence by promoting accuracy, transparency, and accountability.
Conclusion
Fake news and deepfakes have blurred the distinction between legitimate commentary, propaganda, and deliberate falsehood, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish authentic information from deception. While legal reforms are necessary to address malicious uses of AI-generated content, regulation alone cannot solve the problem. A comprehensive response requires effective legislation, responsible platform governance, technological innovation, professional journalism, and widespread media literacy. Together, these measures offer the most sustainable approach to preserving public trust and protecting the integrity of democratic discourse in the digital age.