Haji links the rise of digital platforms and AI to the spread of disinformation, citing the Gen Z protests as an example of its destabilising effects.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji has termed widespread disinformation and misinformation fuelled by the use of social media as a major threat to national security.
Mr Haji identified the rise of digital platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) as some of the catalysts for disinformation, noting that the vice has the potential to destabilise the country if left unchecked.
Mr Haji - who was speaking at a symposium organised by the National Intelligence Research University (NIRU) on Thursday - also linked the vice to the June 2024 Gen Z protests, which began as a movement against proposed tax laws, but which government officials said was infiltrated by political elements seeking to exploit youth anger to destabilise.
Read: NIS: Who watches the watchmen?
The nationwide protests forced President Ruto to dissolve his Cabinet and reject the Finance Bill 2024. During and after the nationwide protests, security agencies came under intense scrutiny for allegedly targeting social media users who were perceived to be critical of President William Ruto’s administration. Some of the critics were abducted while others were arrested and charged with cybercrime.
Themed ‘towards resilient information ecosystems: combating disinformation and misinformation for democracy and national security,’ the event discussed means of combating disinformation as a strategy of safeguarding national security while upholding fundamental freedoms rights.
“While access to information remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, socio-economic stability and inter-state relations, propagation of disinformation and misinformation continue to threaten these ideals,” said Mr Haji.
He noted that foreign and domestic agents of destructive activities are increasingly leveraging cyberspace to advance their interests to the detriment of national security.
“Further, proliferation of technology and innovation, the rise of digital platforms and artificial intelligence, have supercharged the speed, scale and precision of disinformation tactics.
The recent developments in the country, particularly GenZ protests, demonstrated the destabilizing effects of digital activism, which tested our political, economic and security resilience,” he observed.
He said there is a general consensus that the country has to pull all the stops and come up with pragmatic solutions to deal with the vice.
“Therefore, building robust information ecosystems is not just aspirational; it is a pressing call to action. In this regard, NIRU is strategically positioned to advance academic knowledge, as well as create an interface for security practitioners and technology experts,” he said.
Read: Fire Haji if abduction claims true
The DG further said that NIRU is best placed to formulate policy proposals to address underlying vulnerabilities in cyberspace.
“As such, the university should aspire to occupy a premier position in fostering collaborations that transcend academic spheres and address our unique challenges,” Mr Haji said.
He said the collaborations have to incorporate tech companies whose contributions are key in content moderation and enforcement of regulations.
He further called for the realignment of the country’s legal landscape to the complexities of prosecuting cybercrimes. This he said will also enable a framework for cross-border cooperation.
“Moreover, the conflicting legal regimes in different jurisdictions remain an impediment to inter-state cooperation in addressing the challenge,” he noted.
[email protected]
