New tools can detect deepfakes with 99% accuracy — Police

Police officers. Photo: TheCable

The Nigeria Police Force says newly acquired cybersecurity tools have the capacity to detect deepfake videos, voice cloning and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated manipulation with up to 99 per cent accuracy.

The police said the technology would strengthen its capacity to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated misinformation and disinformation ahead of the forthcoming elections.

A representative of the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, disclosed this at a webinar organised PUNCH Media Foundation on Wednesday, themed “AI Misinformation and Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Safeguarding the Truth, Protecting the Vote,” while addressing concerns about the possible use of artificial intelligence to manipulate electoral information, impersonate political candidates and spread false reports capable of undermining election security.

He explained that AI-generated videos, photographs and audio recordings could falsely portray candidates, public officials and electoral authorities as making statements they never made.

According to him, voice cloning also presents a security concern, as individuals could imitate political opponents or other public figures to circulate false announcements, endorsements, threats and inflammatory messages.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the police had acquired technological solutions capable of identifying such manipulations.

“The cyber solutions that the police have procured of recent have the ability to verify this information 99 per cent,” he said.

He maintained that the police were prepared to provide the necessary security and protect citizens’ fundamental human rights, particularly their right to participate freely in the electoral process.

He said the police recognised the importance of ensuring a level playing field for citizens to exercise their democratic rights without intimidation or manipulation.

The police representative further explained that the emergence of AI-related threats had made it necessary for security agencies to strengthen their preparedness to address digital manipulation during elections.

He cited the circulation of allegedly manipulated photographs of a political rally in one of the southern states, where one image reportedly showed an empty stadium while another portrayed it as filled with a crowd exceeding its actual capacity.

According to him, the stadium could accommodate approximately 30,000 people, but another image was circulated suggesting that about 50,000 spectators had attended the event.

He said such content could distort public perception, provoke political disagreements and create security challenges if circulated without verification.

On the police response to such incidents, he identified attribution and verification as key responsibilities of the Police Cybercrime Centre.

He explained that investigators would establish who originated the information, determine its authenticity and investigate the circumstances surrounding its circulation.

He also disclosed that an individual had been taken into police custody over alleged false information concerning a political candidate from the South-South region.

He said the police would continue to investigate such incidents and ensure that anyone found to have committed an offence was dealt with in accordance with the law.

The police further emphasised the importance of collaboration among security agencies, the National Broadcasting Commission, media organisations, civil society groups and the National Orientation Agency in addressing election-related misinformation.

He urged citizens to verify information through credible platforms before sharing it, warning that the circulation of unverified reports could heighten political tension and threaten public safety.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to strengthening election security through technological innovation, intelligence gathering, investigation and collaboration with relevant stakeholders.