How OPS has taken step to forestall misinformation

By allcitynews.ng

Organised Private Sector (OPS) has taken giant step to forestall misinformation which can act as destructive worms against growth and development of business, especially at this hardship and economic downturn.

As part of their efforts to prevent members from stepping on the same Banana peels that led to the ruin of most enterprises or made some individuals to loss huge sums of money to fraudsters, the mouthpiece of OPS, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association of Nigeria (NECA) kickstarted the move by setting up misinformation tracking team on May 1 2024.

The team made up of renowned practicing media technocrats, like the leadership of International Press Centre (IPC) and others began facts tracking works. The team has pointed out that many innocent individuals and corporate bodies have fallen prey to dubious claims because of fake news or misinformation.

The group cautioned those interested in seeking for online jobs against falling into trap by scammers.

Noting that misinformatio, malformation, or outright fake news could be threat to businesses especially at a critical period when most businesses are finding it extremely hard to stand, the team suggested for stiffer penalties for peddlers of misinformation to act as deterrent.

Unveiling the report of the facts-checking carried out the Executive Director of International Press Centre (IPC),
Comrade Lanre Arogundade who led the of researchers identify various online scams as threat to survival of businesses. He however charged business firms on scam alert activation department to track scammers and nip such in the bud or counter such with appropriate information.

In the presented report Arogundade and participants expressed concerns over the increasing numbers of misinformation.

The report was delivered during a meeting by the Private Sector Coalition on Disinformation held at Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) office in Lagos last Wednesday.

The findings revealed that fake content creators continue to recycle and adapt old false narratives to different businesses, motivated by financial gain, clickbait strategies, and unhealthy business rivalries.

The report highlighted how the same disinformation, which had been debunked, keeps resurfacing across different sectors. A notable example involved a fraudulent loan offer originally attributed to PalmPay in 2023, which later reappeared in the name of OPay. Despite repeated fact-checking by platforms like AfricaCheck, these false claims not only continued to spread on social media but are often shared by the same actors.

Arogundade noted, “The public tends to believe what they want, even after debunking. Social media platforms face challenges in controlling the flow of information in private networks, where false claims continue to thrive for political or economic gains.”

The Rise of Identity Theft and Corporate Impersonation. Another alarming trend identified in the report is the growing incidence of identity theft, where scammers impersonate companies’ logos, websites, and even executives. The financial sector, in particular, has been hard-hit by these scammers.

The team also warned against falling victims to online scammers which are becoming rampant based on current technology and misuse of AI.

Some of the methods employed by scammers include card theft, fake transaction alerts, unsolicited loans and fake investments, fake job websites, fake love affairs which eventually leading to death of some  people or leading to loss of huge sums of money.

Also, among the are financial scams, are fake investments, cryptocurrency fraud, and corporate impersonation.  And as online shopping and mobile commerce continue to grow in Nigeria, consumers are increasingly exposed to these threats, with trust in digital business engagements at risk.

The report also warned that customers’ engagement with online businesses might decline due to the rise of scams and corporate impersonation. Statistics show that 72% of online shopping in Nigeria in 2022 occurred via mobile platforms, highlighting the importance of trust in digital interactions. Once customers lose confidence in the authenticity of information, their willingness to engage with businesses online may dwindle with time.

Way out, companies were encouraged to establish in-house fact-checking units and collaborate with investigative journalists to expose and prosecute those responsible for spreading false narratives. The report also emphasized the importance of leveraging automated media literacy tools, such as SMS and voice calls, to keep customers informed.

“Business firms must invest in identifying and legally pursuing those responsible for fake news. Also another way to curb disinformation is to hold culprits accountable by enforcement of existing laws.

The report serves as a wake-up call for Nigerian businesses to take a proactive stance against disinformation and misinformation to protect their brands and restore consumer trust.

It would be recalled that NECA in conjunction with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) commissioned the International Press Centre, IPC, on May 1, 2024, to carry out assessments on the behaviourial pattern of disinformation through tracking, monitoring and desk research.

The Director General, Mr , Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde while declaring it opened cited the freighening effects of disinformation on the nation’s business community as reason for the setting up of the team.

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