ABSTRACT
Deepfakes, a technology that that came to limelight in 2017, is a form of synthetic media which uses Artificial Intelligence to fabricate or generate images, sounds, videos or other materials that has been manipulated with the help of advanced technical means and impossible or difficult to distinguish from the authentic material. This study examines Benin-based journalists' awareness and understanding of deepfake technology, its potential impacts on media production, and measures adopted to recognize it, particularly as it concerns misinformation and propaganda. The study was informed by the increasing concern over the potential threat of deepfakes on the information space, exacerbating the already existing issue of misinformation. The objectives of the study were to assess journalists' knowledge and understanding of deepfakes, their ability to identify deepfake content in a media production, and their perceived role in combating the malicious use of deepfakes. The study was guided by the Technology Determinism and Agenda Setting Theories, which suggest that technology shapes and influences human behavior and societal norms and that public opinion is influenced by the media. The researcher used survey method and a questionnaire as the instrument of data collection with a sample of 84 journalists who are members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council. The findings reveal that Benin-based journalists lack in-depth knowledge of deepfakes and have difficulties identifying deepfake content in a media production. Respondents agreed that deepfakes and synthetic media technology pose a significant threat to the information space and exacerbate the issue of misinformation. They also agreed that as journalists, they have an agenda-setting role in educating the public, while media organizations collaborate with experts from academic and government institutions, as well as private companies that are developing tech and policy standards to combat malicious use of these technologies. Based on the study findings, two recommendations are proposed: firstly, to improve journalists' awareness and understanding of deepfakes through training and workshops, and secondly, to establish partnerships between media organizations and experts from academic and government institutions, as well as private companies, to develop tech and policy standards to combat the malicious use of deepfakes.
